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COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr 



CHRISTIAN 
EVANGELISM 



y^ BY 
J. vfCOOMBS 



Author of ^^Campaigning for Christ^* 
and ^^ Religious Delusion^ J ^ 




THE STANDARD PUBLISHING CO. 
CINCINNATI, O. 










i 



LIBRARY of C0N6BESS1 
Two Copies Rcceivw. 

FEB 101^08 

oussA XXc, J*L 



Copyright, 1907, 

BY 

J. V. Coombs 



CONTENTS 



Preface i 

Introduction v 

CHAPTER I. 
Christian Evangelism. i 

CHAPTER H. 
The Evangelist. .__ 5 

CHAPTER IH. 
Personal Evangelism 9 

CHAPTER IV. 
How TO Use the Old Sword 25 

CHAPTER V. 
The Bible- Training Class 46 

CHAPTER VI. 
The Pentecostal Revival 52 

CHAPTER VU. 

Before the Revival 56 

CHAPTER VIII. 
After the Revival Begins 68 

CHAPTER IX. 
The Singer and His Song 74 

CHAPTER X. 
Studies in the Life of Christ 81 

CHAPTER XI. 
Conclusion 103 

Progress in Religious Reformation 107 



PREFACE 



In preparing this book, I have read about four 
thousand pages of evangeUstic Uterature. I have 
been convinced of two things: 

I. That in these books there is much chaff and 
Httle wheat. Like the Frenchman's razors, they 
are made to sell, not to be used. A few drops 
of thoughts are diffused into an ocean of ver- 
bosity. Much of the material is theological dis- 
cussion that has no bearing upon evangelism. 
Emotionalism takes the place of common sense. 
These frenzied religionists tell the soul-winner 
to wait for power from on high. To the seeker 
they say, "Trust, wait, and God will speak to 
you." It would be just as sensible for a hungry 
man to wait and trust for food. If you want 
to appease the hunger of a starving man, carry 
food to him. Nothing else will save him. God 
has ordained that food will appease hunger, and 
water will quench thirst. He has as certainly 
ordained that the gospel is the power that will 
save sinful men. Instead of the soul-winner 
waiting for power, let him appropriate the 
power which God has given him. The Bible is 
a magazine of power, and we must use it to 
save men. 



ii PREFACE 

To many of these writers, New Testament 
evangelism is a stranger. They reverse God's 
plan. They say, ''Get the Spirit and come to 
Christ." The Bible says, "Come to Christ and 
get the Spirit.'* Freaks, fads, follies and fakes 
should not displace the simplicity of the gospel. 
In a few words in the Sermon on the Mount, 
Jesus gave the great social law that will redeem 
the world. When this social law, ''Do unto 
others as you would have others do unto you," 
is obeyed, there will not be one sinful man .on 
earth. Poverty, sorrow and sin will be no more. 
In a few simple words Jesus told men how to 
enter the kingdom. This message he tells us to 
carry to dying men. 

2. The second conclusion is: Most of the men 
who prepare the evangelistic literature have 
never been in the fight. It is again a British 
general telling a young buckskin how to fight. 
Braddock went down in defeat, but Washington 
made it possible for the Stars and Stripes to 
wave over the land of the free. These com- 
pilers are generally editors in their easy-chairs, 
preachers with burnt-out enthusiasm, or college 
professors with their icebergs of formality and 
icefields of indiflference. If it were not serious, 
it would be amusing when we hear these men, 
who have never fought one evangelistic battle, 



PREFACE Hi 

telling how to conduct and promote a revival. 
Periodically some novice springs into the evan- 
gelistic arena and attempts to preach the ''New 
Evangelism'' Behind their breastworks, they 
fire a few blank cartridges, run up the white 
flag, and declare that the rank and file would 
not support their great forward movement. If 
they would load their guns with New Testament 
powder, and fire them with Christian enthu 
siasm, the foe would put up the white flag. 

Some ten years ago I sent "Campaigning for 
Christ" on its mission of work. It has gone into 
thousands of homes. Perhaps no book on this 
subject has had a wider reading among our 
people. But I find this book has been used 
where I never intended it. It has been used as 
a class-book. ''Christian Evangelism'' is pre- 
pared for two purposes : 

1. To give the best information possible on 
evangelism, and teach the soul-winner how to 
reach men under the various conditions in which 
they are placed. 

2. To be used as a class-book. I give ten les- 
sons on training workers, and ten on New Tes- 
tament study. A careful study of these twenty 
lessons will give the Christian worker a valuable 
preparation for soul-winning. An acquaintance 
with God's word will give strength and power 



IV PREFACE 

to any one. ''Study to show yourself approved 
of God'' is the instruction from Paul. The 
Christian life may be summed up in three 
words: Come^ Abide^ Go. To the unsaved, the 
Bible says, *'Come to Christ;'' to the untrained, 
''Sit at the feet of Jesus until you are filled with 
truth;" to the soldier of the Lord, "Go out and 
bring- back the lost." "I am the way, the truth, 
and the life." That these pages may be read by 
the thousands, and inspire Christians to better 
service, is the hope of the author. 

Trusting that "Christian Evangelism" will re- 
ceive the same favor that the companion volume, 
"Campaigning for Christ," has received, I send 
this Httle volume forth to work where I can 
not go. J. V. Coombs. 

Danville, Ind., Jan. i, 1908. 



INTRODUCTION 



In this day, when men are speciaUzing in 
every vocation, it is indeed gratifying to see a 
book on Christian evangeUsm, by a Christian 
evangehst. It might be interesting, but more 
probably amusing, to hear some Jap., of the reg- 
ular rank and file from either army or navy, 
instruct Admiral Togo as to how to win a great 
naval battle, but I must say personally I would 
rather hear the admiral inform the other man 
as to how it was done. 

Unfortunately, nearly all the instruction given 
to the evangelists in the Christian Church has 
been of the above nature. Upon both national 
and State programs, and in county and district 
conventions, much of the instruction on evan- 
gelism has been given by men who have never 
held a great meeting, and sometimes by one who 
has never permitted a great meeting to be held 
in his church. It is perfectly proper for a pas- 
tor to speak for the pastors, and point out the 
place and power of a pastor in a great cam- 
paign; of the necessary preparation, the power 
of prayer, personal work by the membership, 
etc. But a great general must not only know 
the strength of his forces and have command 



vi INTRODUCTION 

of the same, but he must know the field where 
the battle is to be fought. A doctor must not 
only know the condition of his patient, but also 
the contents of his medicine-case. It is cer- 
tainly inspiring to know that we are now to have 
a book of instructions from one who has not 
only been in, but led in, the battle. Evangelist 
J. V. Coombs knows men, and he knows more, 
he knows methods — not theoretical, but prac- 
tical. He has been in the thick of the fight, 
and has won many great victories. He comes 
to the front with this book, not as a young nov- 
ice, but as an old veteran in the cause of evan- 
gelism. I have not read the book, but I have 
seen the table of contents, and, judging from my 
acquaintance with the author and knowing his 
experience and ability in the field wherein he 
has thus far devoted the best efl^orts of his life, 
I can truthfully say I am profoundly thankful 
that such a book is to come from such a source, 
and trust that it will be used for the glory of 
God and the salvation of. men. 

Soul-winning can never be secondary to any- 
thing. There is no greater vocation, there is no 
grander work. The slogan of the Great Commis- 
sion is, '*Make Disciples." Nothing else should 
ever have the precedent. To be sure, the church 
must take care of its orphans, must remember 



INTRODUCTION vii 

the sick and afflicted, the aged and forgotten, 
estabHsh colleges and universities, build up the 
societies within the church, tighten the stakes 
and let out the ropes. But no pastor or church 
must ever simply do chores, make the church a 
wheel within a wheel, and become self-cen- 
tered. Such a church must of necessity die out. 
It has been truthfully said that *'the church must 
be a goer or it is a goner." Every organization 
within the church, and every effort by the 
church, must be efforts in the one direction — 
to make disciples. 

The trouble all along has been that men have 
interpreted the Great Commission as though it 
was only intended for those to whom it was 
spoken or to the disciples of the first century. 
It is as much a command in this twentieth cen- 
tury as it was in the first. To us, to each of us, 
and to all of us, the Lord Jesus is saying person- 
ally, "All authority hath been given unto me in 
heaven and on earth. Go ye, therefore, and 
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them 
into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Spirit." Let us restore his authority 
in the church, and let the whole church keep the 
Great Commission and evangelize the whole 
world, as he has commanded us. 

Chicago. Chas. Reign Scoville. 



Christian Evangelism. 



CHAPTER I. 
Christian Evangelism. 

Christian evangelism is the divine art of pro- 
claiming the gospel in such a manner that men 
and w^omen will turn to Christ and be saved. 
The parting command of the Captain of our sal- 
vation was, *'Go ye into all the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature/' The 
chuich has been slow in carrying out this 
emancipation proclamation. 

We are told that this is an evangelistic period. 
We may be on the threshold of an evangelistic 
period, but the great awakening has not yet 
come. 

I went into the forest one morning before 
daylight. Everything was as still as death, not 
even a leaf stirring. Then far away I heard a 
little twitter. Then a bird in the treetop sang 
out sweetly. This woke up another, and that, 
another. Finally the choral outburst came and 
the whole forest was full of sweet melody. We 



2 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

have heard a few feeble notes in evangeUsm. 
Here, fifty; there, one hundred; and again a 
thousand, have come to Christ. But the great 
shout of victory has not yet come. But it will 
come when all of God's people are one, and the 
only test of admission into Christ is a complete 
surrender to our Lord and Master. Then thou- 
sands will sing the new song 

Christians everywhere are turning toward 
evangelism. He who is not interested in evan- 
gelism is living in the past. He belongs to the 
period of mental and religious stagnation. \i 
we discern the signs of the times, another great 
awakening is near at hand. What will this 
revival be? The revivals of the past have not 
struck the keynote of Christian evangelism. 

The revival under Jonathan Edwards was that 
of fear. The great revival of 1803 and 1804 
was a revival of emotion and religious frenzy. 
Men and women sang, prayed, shouted, cried, 
saw visions, heard voices, swooned, and became 
unconscious. Preachers rejoiced over these 
semi-hypnotic faintings, and called these mani- 
festations, conversion. 

The great revival of 1857 was a revival of 
excitement and feeling. Joy was the great theme 
for sermons. This ecstasy soon passed, and the 
lasting results were few. All these revivals, as 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 3 

well as the revival of 1875 to 1880, v^ere defec- 
tive. The transforming power of the gospel 
was not fully preached. As we are supposed 
to be on the verge of a new era in evangelism, 
what will this revival be? Some tell us it must 
be an ethical revival. Others clamor for a social 
revival, while others shout, ''Give us an old- 
fashioned revival,'in the old-fashioned way!'' 

We hear much about the old and the new 
evangelism. I pray not for a new evangelism, 
and plead not for the old evangelism. We can 
not have a new evangelism without a new evan- 
gel, and a new evangel presupposes a new Christ. 
We plead for the evangelism of the New Testa- 
ment. It is neither old nor new. It is founded 
upon the Rock of Ages. It is ageless. To add 
or subtract is to make it fruitless. 

CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM WILL PROCLAIM TWO 
FACTS : 

I. The first, that Christianity is a perfect and 
final revelation from God. The finality of Chris- 
tianity found no place in the preaching of the 
revivals of the past. The preachers prayed for 
special powers and looked for outward manifes- 
tations. 

This age must proclaim this fact : God has 
said all he has to say on the plan of salvation. 



4 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

In the past he spoke to us by the prophets, but 
in these last days he has spoken to us by his 
Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things. 
God has expressed his will through his Son, and 
all he has to say on redemption he has said in 
Jesus. Any so-called new revelation is in con- 
flict with the teachings of Jesus, and should be 
rejected. 

2. The second point is: That when we admit 
that Christianity is God's final revelation to men, 
we are ready to accept the New Testament as 
the authoritative expression of God's will to 
men. We will no longer hear men talk about 
inward light and new revelations. Feelings, in- 
ward light and inward conscience will not be the 
courts of appeal, but the New Testament will be 
the last court of appeal in all matters of religion. 
All consciousness must be tested by the New Tes- 
tament standard. The divine pattern will make 
the New Testament the highest court of appeal. 
We will then no more hear the folly about loy- 
alty to Jesus being our test of fellowship, for to 
be loyal to him is to be true to his teachings. 
All we know about the religion of the Christ is 
found in his word. If I make only two great 
points in this book, let them be : The finality of 
Christianity and the authoritative expression of 
God's will in the New Testament. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



CHAPTER II. 

ThB EVANGKI.IST. 

The evangelist must be an optimist. True, 
there is much to discourage. The world is full 
of sin, sorrow and crime. Ministers are indif- 
ferent, sinners are haughty, saints are heartless, 
churches are cold the masses are rushing on to 
ruin. Degradation is in the hovel; crime, too 
appalling to mention, is found in the marble pal- 
ace. Vice lurks among the rich, and selfishness 
invades the ranks of the army of our Lord; and 
yet optimism must dominate. 

Why should the evangelist not be an optimist ? 
He has the grandest message ever given to man. 
He comes as a messenger from Heaven, with a 
free pardon for a man condemned to die. He 
knows the pardon, if accepted, will set the man 
free. It is his joyous privilege to carry this 
free pardon. He must induce the man to ac- 
cept the pardon this moment. In one hour it 
may be too late. The eternal destiny of the man 
under condemnation hangs upon the immediate 
acceptance of this message. Hope, joy, glad- 
ness, should pervade his message. 



6 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

HIS APPEAL. 

He is now ready to make the last appeal. He 
is like the lawyer before the jury, on the last 
day of the trial. All the evidence is in, the in- 
struction is given, and in a moment the case will 
go to the jury. Life and death depend upon 
this last appeal. He pleads for a verdict of ac- 
quittal. In a moment the fate of his client will 
be settled. Oh, what joy and gladness will come 
to his heart when he realizes that the man is 
pardoned ! 

The theme of the evangelist should be hope. 
Joy should be in every sermon. He has good 
tidings of great joy to tell to those in bondage. 
This message will open the prison gates and set 
free all who are condemned to die. 

THE SERMON. 

The evangelist should never strive to preach 
a deep sermon. The simplicity of the gospel 
converts men. The evangelist has a heavenly 
message. Tell it to the lost in the plainest of 
language. A lady said to me: 'The sermon I 
heard last night was the deepest sermon that 
was ever preached in our church. It gave me 
great joy. It was so deep that I did not under- 
stand a word he said." That is some people's 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 7 

idea of a deep sermon. I looked Into a little 
mudhole, three inches deep. I could not see the 
bottom. It was muddy. Many sermons are as 
clear as mud. I stood on the banks of a lake 
in Colorado that was fifty feet deep. I could 
see the bottom clearly. One was shallow and 
muddy; the other, clear and deep. Whenever 
3^ou do not understand the sermon, be assured 
it is muddy, and many there be that are very 
muddy. 

The preaching should be positive, not dog- 
matic. No one cares for apologetic preaching. 
The preacher who said, ''Brethren, if you do not 
believe in a measure, and repent to an extent, 
you will be damned to a degree,'^ will never 
cause men to cry out, ''What must we do ?'' 

Boastful preaching will never move the 
masses. / and me should give way to our and 
us, ^'Our Father, give us/' not, ''My Father, 
give me/' will gain the sympathies of the needy 
and helpless. A beggar asked Tolstoi for alms. 
He replied, "Brother, I have not a cent.'' "Well, 
you called me brother; that is better than 
money.'' The caterpillar, the small snake, the 
cat and dog will play bluff, and swell up to look 
big; but a man with a message will lose sight 
of self in order to deliver the wonderful story. 

"Preach philosophy and men will applaud. 



B CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Preach Christ and men will repent/' Paul says, 
'Treach the word" (2 Tim. 4:1). The preacher 
who will stir the hearts of men must preach the 
Lordship of Jesus. Peter declared on the day 
of Pentecost that God had made Jesus Lord. 
Convince men that Jesus is Lord, and they will 
acknowledge his authority. In realizing that he 
is Lord, we will realize his word is to be obeyed 
in all things. Every command he gives is from 
our heavenly, anointed King. We should make 
him Lord of the home, of the legislative hall, 
of amusements, business, and Lord of all. 

This message should be told in tender love. 
In the presence of the dead and dying, we for- 
get all our rivalry and hate. Men are dying 
without God or hope. Carry to them, with 
hearts of love, the story of the cross. Point 
them to our loving Saviour. Preach the whole 
scheme of redemption. 

"What must I preach to be saved?'' is as 
important as "What must I do to be saved?'' 
Preach to please God, not to please men. 
Preach in such a manner that men will make a 
complete surrender to Jesus. Don't fail to de- 
clare the whole counsel of God. Any compro- 
mising for present effect is disloyalty to our 
heavenly, anointed King. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



CHAPTER III. 

PKRSONAI, EVANGKI.ISM. 

They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the 
firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness as the 
stars for ever and ever. — Dan, 12: ^, 

He that winneth souls is wise. — Prov. 11:30, 

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from 
the error of his way shall save a soul from death.— y<2j. j.-^o. 

The keynote in evangelism is personal effort. 
Every Christian should be an evangelist. We 
have left all to the preacher and evangelist. The 
preacher can reach but few. The evangelistic 
problem will be solved when we can wake every 
Christian up to the white heat of soul-winning. 
In the early church every member was an evan- 
gelist. Gibbon gave as the reason for the rapid 
increase of Christianity, ''that as soon as a man 
was converted he ran to tell the news to his 
neighbor.'' In the first-century church the dis- 
ciples went everywhere preaching the Word. 
Philip ran to tell the good tidings. 

Personal work will win the victory. Jesus 
was a personal worker. He preached some of 
his best sermons to an audience of one. His 



10 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

personal conversation with the woman at the 
well, with Nicodemus, with Zacchseus, Nathaniel, 
Matthew, the heathen woman on the coast, the 
sinful woman in the temple, and to the poor 
people beyond the Jordan, demonstrated the 
value of personal work. Andrew brought his 
brother Peter, and Philip pointed Nathaniel to 
Jesus. When Andrew added Peter to the band 
of followers, he aided in preaching that wonder- 
ful sermon at Pentecost. 

The individual must reach the individual. It 
must be a face-to- face heart talk. The Chris- 
tian should realize that he has enlisted in a 
mighty army whose only purpose is the con- 
quest of the whole world for Christ. A Chris- 
tian who has never brought one person to Christ 
should be ashamed of his religious warfare, yet 
scores in the church have never won a person 
to Christ; and, what is still sadder, thousands 
have never tried to win one for Jesus. 

This indifference is the shame of the church. 
Reader, as you read these lines, stop, meditate 
and determine, ''As for me, I am resolved to 
bring some one to Jesus, and I will begin work 
as a soul-winner at once." A young man who 
was dying was asked, "Are you afraid to die?'' 
"No, I am not afraid, but I am not ready." 
"What do you mean ?" "Here I am, thirty years 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 11 

old. I have been a Christian two years. I have 
not won a soul for Christ. I am going to judg- 
ment empty-handed.'' 

''Must I go empty-handed? 

Must I meet my Saviour so? 
Not one soul with which to greet him? 
Must I empty-handed go?" 

What multitudes of Christians are going down 
to the grave empty-handed. Oh, youth, will 
there be any stars in your crown? 

In a sermon once in Oklahoma, I asked: 
''How old are you? Forty, you say? Tell me 
honestly, how much good have you done ? How 
many persons have you pointed to Jesus?" A 
prominent lady came to me immediately, and 
said: "Here I am, thirty-eight years qld. I 
have been a member of the church for twenty 
years. I can not remember that I have ever 
done one good thing in the name of Christ. I 
have never asked one person to be a Christian. 
Religiously, my life is a failure." I repHed: ''If 
your life is a failure religiously, your whole life 
has been misspent. Will you not begin to-day?" 
She replied, "I will." 

WHAT THE PERSONAL WORKER MUST REALIZE. 

I. He must realize that all out of Christ are 
lost, and are going down to death without God, 



12 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

hope or excuse. He must see the great need of 
haste in rescuing the perishing. 

2. He must reaUze that the gospel is the power 
of God unto salvation ; that God has said in 
Jesus all that he has to say about redemption; 
that the gospel must be carried to the children 
of men, and that he is one of God's messengers, 
with a message to be delivered at once to dying 
men. 

3. That if he does not carry the message to 
those around him, he is a traitor to his Lord. 

4. He should realize that to-day is the time to 
begin, for to-morrow never comes. Now is a 
grand leader, but procrastination is a thief that 
limps behind and will take his life's blood. 

WHO SHOULD DO PERSONAL W^ORK. 

Every preacher should be a personal worker. 
All great evangelists have been great personal 
workers. Let his conversation be about Jesus. 
The Christian judge should point the people to 
that great day when Jesus will judge the world. 
The teacher should tell his pupils of that great 
Teacher who spake as never man spake, and the 
teacher who can not point to Jesus as pre-emi- 
nently the greatest of all teachers is not quali- 
fied to instruct your boy. The Christian engineer 
should take into his cab some soul hungry for 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 13 

the bread of life, and tell him where his hungry 
soul can be fed. The groceryman, as he weighs 
out his goods, should ask his customers if they 
are ready to be weighed in God's balances. The 
merchant, as he measures the cloth, should tell 
the purchaser that God is measuring our lives. 
The physician, as he sees the tide of life going 
out, should whisper to his patient that in a mo- 
ment the morning light will break on the farther 
shore. The superintendent of the Sunday-school 
should personally tell his pupils that Jesus loves 
them and that the great purpose of the school 
is to save them. 

Finally, every Christian must realize that he 
can not be a follower of Jesus unless he takes 
up his cross daily. Let him realize that he is 
here on business for his King, and that the busi- 
ness of his King requires haste. You need not 
be a great conversationalist to do personal work. 
Moses was slow of speech, yet he led Israel 
out of bondage. The writer knew a crippled 
girl that brought many to Christ by writing 
tender letters to her companions. 

TO WHOM SHALL I SPEAK? 

It may be wise to begin with your friends, 
persons about your age or younger. Andrew 
went after his brother. At first select those that 



14 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

you love and the ones that you have reason to 
think have confidence in you. But when you 
have the enthusiasm of Peter, and the love of 
John, you can speak to any one. I once heard 
a little girl say : ''Mamma, won't you be a Chris- 
tian ?" The mother turned, kissed the little dar- 
ling, and came to Jesus. 

In a meeting one night a young man came 
forward, but did not stop to sit down till he went 
to two of his brothers. They all came, and 
fifteen other young men. It is heroic to save 
life. It is Christly to save souls. Get in love 
with Jesus, and you must win men to the Mas- 
ter. Never be discouraged. Plead with men and 
women to do their duty, as a mother begs the 
wayward boy to come home. No doubt Paul 
and Silas saw dark hours when in prison. But 
they sang. Be of good cheer. I like the robin 
the best of all birds. It sings in the dark days, 
and even in the rain. I like the Christian who 
can sing in the dark hours. Sing; don't whine. 
Look up, not down. 

THE PERSONAL WORKER'S REWARD. 

Tongue can not tell the joys that come to him 
who wins souls. He will be rewarded in his 
happiness here in this life. No Christian Is 
happy in the divine sense of happiness till he 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM IB 

can say, ''I have brought this lost lamb back to 
the fold." He will be rewarded in spiritual 
strength. By helping others, you help yourself. 
He will be rewarded because he is now ready 
to show others how to work for Jesus. He will 
be rewarded because he realizes that a crown 
awaits him in heaven. He will be rewarded be- 
cause he can go back home and tell what the 
Lord has done for men. 

*'Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things 
the Lord hath done for thee." — Mark ^: ig. 

Winning souls is the highest joy allotted to 
men. I would rather spend the next twenty-five 
years winning men to Christ than to spend that 
time in heaven. Heaven will be happier for 
every soul that we win. Angels will rejoice. 

'The Preacher and His Message." 

James Small, 

I have been asked by Bro. Coombs to write 
something for his new book, on the above theme. 
What shall the preacher preach? How shall he 
deliver the sermon? What is the ideal sermon 
for these days? What is the proper stuff to 
put into a sermon? How can I best lay the 
book to the hearts of the people? 



16 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

These are the questions I am supposed to 
answer; but it is like raising a family. Those 
who know best how to raise boys are those who 
have none. 

I heard once of a man who went over to a 
friend who had quite a family, and he said, 'T 
want to give you some advice about raising 
boys.'' ''Well,'' said the friend, 'T understand 
your own boys are not all they should be." 
''That is just why I can give you some advice 
now in regard to training your boys. I see 
where I have missed it in raising mine." Now 
you can see the applicatiun is easy. It is one 
thing to te]l a preacher how the thing is done; 
it is quite another thing to do it yourself. But 
1 am to tell how it should be done, and if my 
reader is helped in any way, I am repaid for my 
effort. 

I. I should put as a very first requisite, earn- 
estness in the delivery. A sermon may be fault- 
less in regard to literary structure, or in the 
matter of Biblical composition, and yet it may 
produce little or no effect upon an audience, be- 
cause it is not delivered with the earnestness and 
emotion which are necessary in order to "grip" 
the congregation and stir their souls to "do 
something." The keynote of every sermon 
should be salvation; and a sermon that rouses 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 17 

souls to do something is the sermon alone that 
accomplishes good. Nothing great is ever horn 
outside of passionate earnestness. 

2. The message should be hopeful. Every 
minister and evangelist should *'go in to win.*' 
As one sits under the voice and power of those 
early preachers, nothing is more evident than 
that they "believed and therefore spoke.'' They 
knew the truth of their message and felt its 
power. They had embodied faith in immediate 
results from their preaching. The gospel, they 
believed, was the seed of faith. Men, they 
felt, must believe it when they heard it. Nor 
were they often disappointed m that faith. Who 
can doubt for a moment but that their un- 
bounded faith and hope had much to do with 
their success? They must have preached with 
an enthusiasm which was simply irresistible. 
They could not be defeated. With the love and 
hope of their Master in their souls, their whole 
aim was victory, and they had reason to rejoice 
in daily and glorious triumphs for their risen 
Lord. 

One of the students of Charles H. Spurgeon 
told me once of an incident he heard Spurgeon 
tell. Some one had come to Spurgeon and told 
him that he was much discouraged because he 
had no converts resulting from his preaching. 



18 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Mr. Spurgeon asked him if he ahvays expected 
converts. The preacher answered by saying 
that he seldom expected them at all. *'Very 
well/' said Mr. Spurgeon, ''with that state of 
mind you may be sure that you will have no 
converts.'' Usually the man who has faith in 
results will have them. Of course, he will not 
have results if he does not carefully plan for 
them and pray for them and work for them. 

But this is invariably true that he who 
preaches for immediate results will carefully 
study how to obtain them, and his sermons will 
be directed to that end. He will be very much 
like Gideon's three hundred. While they lapped 
with their hands they were on the eager lookout 
for the foe and the best way to obtain the vic- 
tory. They thought while they were lapping. 
Preachers and evangelists, who are successful, 
must think on their feet; i. e., while preaching. 
They must learn to shoot with a rifle. 

The preacher has before him a needy audi- 
ence. The poor are there, the discouraged, the 
tempted, the tried, the saint and sinner ; and if 
he knows their individual need, all the better. 
Then he will not have to ''scatter." He can be 
kindly direct and pathetically personal. Often 
the best sermons are preached to one person in 
the audience. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 19 

3. Again, the preacher must ''preach the 
word/' The temptation to preach on topics of 
the hour is great these days. Young men, espe- 
cially, think they must deal with living themes, 
and that their preaching must be abreast of the 
times. But is not the Bible up to date? Does 
it not keep abreast of the times? Is the word 
of God no longer in touch with the days in 
which we live? 

Men make an awful mistake if they think 
the ''word'' has lost its power and its adapta- 
tion to the needs of the people. We call it the 
"old book," yet it is the very newest book of 
the day! The book keeps the best hearts alive. 
There is a tone of vital freshness about it that 
is really wonderful. 

Principal Fairbairn says of the Book of 
Psalms : "For thousands of years these Psalms 
have been sung, and men still sing them, feeling 
as if they were the most modern, the most living 
of all religious songs. They have been trans- 
lated out of their primitive speech into almost 
all our human tongues, and have become, as it 
were, the universal language in which man can 
tell his joy or sorrow, his contrition or exaltation 
to God." 

Really the need in pulpit and pew and home 
to-day is an enthusiasm for the word of God. 



20 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

The trouble with most of us is that we do not 
know how to give it to them fresh, and be sim- 
ply interesting. The problem for the pulpit 
to-day is to keep alive, to sparkle with interest 
and freshness, to be vital, helpful, human and 
inspiring. 

The Christly note should run through all the 
sermon. I once heard a great pianist and com- 
poser play ''Nearer, My God, to Thee,'' with 
many ''curls'' and variations. The effect was 
truly wonderful. While the variations gave 
variety and opportunity for the display of his 
marvelous fingering, the old tune was never 
lost at any time. From beginning to end the 
ear could detect all through the playing that 
sweetest of songs, "Nearer, My God, to Thee." 
So I think it must be of the sermon. What- 
ever the theme may be, or whatever form it 
may take or the evangelist or preacher travel, 
there must be the note of Jesus as Saviour and 
Lord and leader and helper running through 
it all. 

A lady relates an experience of her childhood. 
In the home there hung a mysterious picture of 
a tree. She had been told that something be- 
sides a tree could be seen in the picture; but 
she could not discover it. Suddenly one day she 
saw what she had been looking for — it was the 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 21 

face of Napoleon. Ever afterwards, when she 
looked at the picture, she saw not the tree at 
all — only the face. One who has been redeemed 
by the Lord Jesus will never fail to find him. 
One who knows the Book can not but see the 
Face! He will exalt Christ and fulfill the re- 
quest of the old Scotchwoman who asked the 
young preacher to remember and ''speak a gude 
word for Jesus." 

After all, the real and ultimate interpretation 
of the Book is found in the person of Jesus 
Christ. Its supreme fascination centers in the 
Son of man. "All history is mystery without 
his story." He is the center of the Book. 
All paths of life and liberty and type and pre- 
diction lead to him. 

4. Again, there must be the ''human interest 
in the sermon." 

Preacher More, in the "Sky Pilot," did more 
for "Davie" by reading a letter that came from 
"home" to him than all the sermons he could 
have preached him. You remember how it 
ended: "And oh, Davie, if your heart ever turns 
home, remember the door is always open, and 
its joy you'll bring to us when you come back." 
That word brought "Davie" home to God. That 
open door in the old home was an open door in 
his Father's house. Friends, when God's love 



22 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

grows dim, remember mother's love, and reason 
from that to God's great love. No man ever 
loved God who did not first believe that God 
loved him. 

One of the best textual sermons that is 
preached is one on John 3 : 16. 

god's love to man. 

1. "God.'' Here is the primality of it. "We 
love him because he first loved us." 

2. God "so" loved. Here is the intensity of 
it. So loved us as to remember us, die for us 
and forgive us. 

3. God so loved the "world." Here is the 
universality of it. Jesus is not a sectarian's Sa- 
viour ; he is everybody's Saviour. 

4. That "whosoever." Here is the individu- 
ality of it. He loved "me," and gave himself 
for"^ "me." 

5. That whosoever "believeth." Here is the 
conditionality of it. The sermon in this way 
grows out of the text, and corresponds to the 
thought in the text. 

Then, in conclusion, the preacher must be a 
living embodiment of God's power to save. 
Nothing can, nothing will, ever take the place 
of a man in the pulpit. The preacher must re- 
mind the people of Christ. He must be willing 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 23 

to "give his life a ransom'' for his church. He 
must know his people and bring a message to 
their needs. It will come with power and unction 
when it is forged out of the hot furnace of 
every-day life. 

It is well for us all to remember that Christ 
stands amid the common things of life. He 
lived our life that he might be a merciful High 
Priest, dignify human toil, and settle all the 
problems of labor and capital. He was born in 
a stable, cradled in a manger, that he might 
have something in common with the sons of 
honest toil. 

Two of the sweetest passages in the New Tes- 
tament to me are these: ''As soon as they were 
come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and 
fish laid thereon, and bread . . . and Jesus said 
unto them. Come and dine'' (John 21 : 12). The 
other one is : ''And Jesus, being wearied with his 
journey, sat thus on the well." They both speak 
of the human Christ; bone of our bone, flesh of 
our flesh, and heart of our heart. And as long 
as I have a Saviour on the throne that had such 
feelings and can never forget them, it will al- 
ways be an inspiration to my poor, weak, frail 
life to "look to him." 

And then let the preacher lift up his eyes and 
see this risen Christ, a fishe'rman on the shore, 



24 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

busy in preparing a meal for hungry fishermen ; 
he will learn to preach the Christ that was 
friendly, human, forgiving and sympathetic, as 
never before. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 25 

CHAPTER IV. 

How TO UsK THE O1.D Sword. 

In this campaigning in soul-winning, the 
Christian worker should realize that each per- 
son is led to accept Christ through the use of 
the word of God. The gospel is the power of 
God unto salvation to every one that believes. 
Apply it to every difficulty. Do not depend 
upon your own wisdom to silence the objec- 
tor. God's word will silence him. Do not say, 
''I think,'' or "This is my opinion;" but say, 
''Here is what God says." Then put the Bible 
in the hand of the objector and let hirn read 
the passage that will refute his objection. You 
may, for ready reference, use your guide-book, 
and read from it, but always let the objector 
read from the Bible, and from his own Bible, 
if possible. For illustration, suppose you say 
to a man, "Why do you not accept Christ?" 
He replies: "The Bible is so hard to under- 
stand. It is a puzzle to me." "Do you believe 
the Bible is God's word?" "Oh, yes; but it is 
too difficult for a common man to understand." 
Open the Bible at the right place and say, 
*Tlease read Isa. 35." 



26 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall 
be called The way of holiness ; the unclean shall not pass over 
it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, 
shall not err therein. 

You claim to be a man of fair intelligence? 
Yet a simpleton can understand the simplicity 
of the gospel. This passage refers to the gospel 
of Christ. Now, will you do what God plainly 
tells you to do ? Hear what the Bible says : 

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous 
man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the Lord, and he 
will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will 
abundantly pardon. — Isa. J^. 

Here the Bible tells you to quit your wick- 
edness. Read again i Tim. i : 

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous 
man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and 
for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers 
and murderers of mothers, for manslayers. 

Is this difficult to understand? Read again 
I Cor. 6: 

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the 
kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor 
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of them- 
selves with mankind, 

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, 
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God- 

"God says quit swearing, drinking, lying, and 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 27 

indeed all wickedness. Is that hard to under- 
stand?" 

But this is not all. The Bible not only tells 
you not to do wrong, but to do good. — Matt 
7: 12. 

"All that is plain enough/' he may reply, "but 
what must I do to become a Christian ?'' Read 
Matt. 10 : 32 : 

32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him 
will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 

"Is not that plain? Now you are willing to 
do what you can understand. You understand 
this. Will you do that?'' 

In Acts 2 : 37, men ask Peter what to do. He 
replied to their questions: 

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their 
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, 
Men fl«^ brethren, what shall we do? 

38 Then Peter said unto them. Repent, and be baptized 
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. — Acts 

2:37,3^' 

"To sum up, God wants men to quit their 
meanness, confess Christ and be baptized. These 
things are all plain to you. Do that which you 
know is your duty." In this conversation, the 
Bible has answered all his objections. 



28 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. Never give your opinions. God's word is 
better. 

2. Do not use too many passages. You will 
confuse the inquirer. One verse, well applied, 
will generally accomplish what is desired. 

3. In this personal work, never enter into con- 
troversy. Point the unconverted to what God 
says: let the truth convict. 

4. There are three classes with whom you will 
have to deal : ( i ) Those who want to be saved 
and are anxious. (2) The careless. (3) Those 
who do not want to be saved. Each class must 
be approached differently and by different pas- 
sages of Scripture. The first class can be ap- 
proached anywhere and at any time. After the 
audience is dismissed is an excellent time to do 
personal work. Ten or fifteen personal workers 
in different parts of the audience will reach 
many persons, and offer many objections. 

It is better to go to the indifferent when they 
are alone. If you are not the best person to 
go to them, get the right person to go. 

EXCUSES AND HOW TO MEET THEM. 

I. / am too Great a Sinner — It is too Late, 
Give the Bible to the one who makes this excuse, 
and ask him to read Isa. i : 18. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 29 

i8 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: 
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow : 
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Show him that though his sins may be great, 
they are no greater than the scarlet sins. God 
will forgive him. Some may refuse to read. In 
this case, you read. 

Have him or her read i Tim. 2: 3, 4: 

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our 
Saviour ; 

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto 
the knowledge of the truth. 

Then say to him, ''Who will God have to be 
saved?" He will answer, "All men." "Who 
does that include?" "Everybody." "If God 
would have everybody to be saved, what about 
you?" Lead him to say, "God would have me 
to be saved." 

Have him also read i Tim. i : 15: 

15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, 
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of 
whom I am chief. 

2. / am Lost — There is no Hope for Me. 
Luke 19: 10 fully meets this excuse: 

10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that 
which was lost. 

Also John 6 : 37 : 



30 CHRISTIAX EVANGELISM 

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and 
him that cometh lo me I will in no wise cast cut. 

3. / am Good Enough. Read Rom. 3: 22, 23: 

22 Even the ri^^hteousness of God which is by faith of 
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe ; for there 
is no difference. 

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of 
God. 

Say to him, "\Mio has sinned?" ''All have.'* 
''Who does that include?'' "It includes me." 
''Then, what have you done?" "I have sinned." 
This will likely make him feel his need of the 
Saviour. 

John 3 : 3 will fully answer the one who claims 
to be good enough : 

3 Jesus answered and said unto him. Verily, verily, I say 
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the 
kingdom of God. 

Ask him if he has been born again. 

4. The Backslider. If the backslider is indif- 
ferent, use jer. 2: 19: 

19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy 
backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore and see that 
i/ is an evil tkin^^ and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord 
thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God 
of hosts. 

Ask the backslider if this has not been his 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 31 

experience. The siory of the prodigal (Luke 
15: 12-17) can be used to advantage. Ask the 
backslider if he has been happy since he wan- 
dered away. Show him that the prodigal lost 
his home, his employment and his veracity by 
wandering. He might tell them that he had a 
rich father, but no one would believe him. No 
one believes the backslider when he says that he 
is a Christian. When the prodigal came to him- 
self, he came home. When the backslider comes 
to his senses, he will come back to the house of 
God. 

But if the backslider is sorry for his sins, 
use Jer. 3 : 22, and Matt. 11: 28, 29 : 

22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your 
backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee ; for thou art the 
Lord our God. 

28 Come unto me, 2}\ ye that labour and are heavy laden, 
and I will give you rest. 

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; fbr I am. 
meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your 
souls. 

5. Honest Doubter. Can not believe the un- 
reasonable. Use Isa. 55: 8, 9: 

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your 
ways my ways, saith the Lord. 

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my 
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your 
thoughts. 



32 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

These so-called honest doubters are usually 
trifling with God's word. In a meeting some 
years ago, three lawyers and a judge attended 
every night. They said to me : ''We are honest 
Moubters. We would like to be Christians, but 
do not believe in Christ.'' I said, ''Do you be- 
lieve there is a God?" "Oh, yes; we believe 
that, of course." "Is it, then, not probable that 
he is a prayer-answ^ering God?" "Yes, it is rea- 
sonable that he will hear the cries of his chil- 
dren." "Then, will you, at this moment, kneel 
here all together and ask God to lead you to 
the light?" They hesitated. I said: "Now, you 
admit God may answer prayer, and you say you 
want to be Christians. Now, sirs, if you are hon- 
est doubters, you will honestly do all within your 
power to be brought into harmony with God. 
Will you kneel with me while we pray?" They 
refused. "Now, you are lawyers. Would you, 
as judges, pass upon a case until you had heard 
the evidence? Jesus claims to be divine. The 
New Testament is the testimony of several good 
witnesses. How many of you have carefully 
weighed the evidence?" All of them admitted 
that they had not read the New Testament care- 
fully. They would neither promise to pray nor 
to read carefully the evidence. I then plainly 
told them that thev were not honest doubters. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 33 

I heard nothing more about honest doubters 
from them. The trouble with these men was 
not their doubting, but their sins. Most of the 
doubting has sin at the bottom, 

6. A Man a Skeptic. Meet the skeptic with 
God's word. If he tells you that the gospel is 
all nonsense to him, say, ''Yes, that is just what 
the Bible says." Let him then read i Cor. i : i8: 

i8 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, 
foolishness ; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of 
God. 

'Terhaps the reason you do not obey God is 
your love of sin. Will you read 2 Thess. 2?'* 

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in 
them that perish ; because they received not the love of the 
truth, that they might be saved. 

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delu- 
sion, that they should believe a lie : 

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the 
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Use John 7:17: 

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doc- 
trine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 

If the objector rejects the Bible, then ask him 
if he will go wherever the right will lead him. 
If he will not promise to take his stand upon 
the right, he is only trifling. If he says he will 



34 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

stand by the right and follow wherever it leads 
him, ask him to begin reading the Gospels care- 
fully, also asking God for light, and promising 
God, if there be a God, he will do whatever is 
made clear to him. In ninety-nine times out of 
a hundred he will give up his skepticism, if he 
does these things. 

7. Waiting for a Call. Ask these people who 
are waiting for a call, if they believe the Bible. 
If they say that they do, read Luke 14: 17: 

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that 
were bidden, Come ; for all things are now ready. 

Tell them that this is a divine call. When 
Peter said, ''Repent, and be baptized" (Acts 2: 
38), that was a divine call. To every one who 
believes the Bible it is just as divine as if Peter 
stood here to-day. 

Show them how God draws men. 

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all 
taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and 
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. — -yo/in 6. 

The gospel is more powerful than the personal 
presence of Jesus. When Jesus was here on 
earth the Jews cried, "Crucify him." But when 
the gospel was preached on the day of Pentecost, 
these same men cried out, "What must we do.^" 
God has called all to repent. If we are lost, 
you, and not God, is responsible. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 85 

30 And he s Jd, Nay, father Abraham : but if one went 
unto them from the dead, they will repent. 

31 And he said unto him. If they hear not Moses and the 
prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose 
from the dead. — Luke 16. 

8. What Must I Do to be Saved? These per- 
sons are honest seekers and are easily reached 
if you can get them to read the Bible properly. 
The trouble with many of them is that they have 
been badly taught. They are waiting for feeling 
or signs. Show them that to become a Christian 
is a rational act. Let them carefully read the 
following passages, illustrating steps in obedi- 
ence : 

(a) Faith, how obtained. 

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the 
word of God. — Rom. 10. 

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them 
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost : 

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you ; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
end of the world. Amen. — Matt, 28, 

(b) Repentance. 

38 Then Peter said unto Ihem, Repent, and be baptized 
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. — Acts 2. 

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at ; but 
now commandeth all men every where to repent. — Acts ly. 



36 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

(c) Confess Christ. 

32 Whose ever therefore shall confess me before men, him 
will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 
— Matt. 10. 

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, 
thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus 
Christ is the Son of God. — Acts 8. 

(d) Be baptized. 

16 He that believeih and is baptized shall be saved; but 

he that believeth not shall be damned. — Mark 16. 

Show those witli whom you are working the 
simpHcity of the gospel. That faith comes by 
testimony. That repentance is not some mys- 
terious thing. Read ]\Iatt. 21 : 

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; 
and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in my 
vineyard. 

29 He answered and said, I will not ; but afterward he 
repented, and went. 

Show them that all the sinner has to do 
in order to repent is to surrender his will to 
God's will. A useful passage is 2 Cor. 7: 10, 11, 
Revised Version: 

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, 
a repentance which bringeth no regret : but the sorrow of the 
world worketh death. 

11 For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made 
sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 37 

yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea 
what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what aveng- 
ing ! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the 
matter. 

9. Not Now — / am Not Ready — Time Enough 
Yet. Press upon this class the importance of 
accepting Christ now. The lost world is popu- 
lated with the victims of time enough yet. Read 
Matt. 24 : 

44 Therefore be ye also ready : for in such an hour as ye 
think not the Son of man cometh. 

Ask: "Are you ready to die? Are you pre- 
pared for the judgment? God tells you to get 
ready; you disobey him if you do not. God not 
only tells you what to obey, but when. The 
when is as important as the what. Be kind 
enough to read with me 2 Cor. 6:" 

2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and 
in the day of salvation have I succored thee : behold, now t's 
the accepted time; behold, now ts the day of salvation. 

"I do not ask you, do you feel safe, but are 
you safe? Who expects the thunderbolt? Nine- 
ty per cent, of all who die, die unexpectedly. 
Delays are dangerous. Upon this winged mo- 
ment eternity may depend as far as you are 
concerned. It is wicked to refuse to accept Him 
immediately. Read carefully the following warn- 
ings from God:" 



38 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

19 And I will say to my soul, Sou], thou hast much goods 
laid up for many years ; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be • 
men y. 

20 But God said unto him. Thou fool, this night thy soul 
shall be required of thee : then whose shall those things be, 
which thou hast provided? — Luke 12. 

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; 
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 
^Heb.3. 

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth 
it not, to him it is sin.— -/^j. 4. 

13 Go to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will 
go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and 
sell, and get gain : 

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. 
For what is your life ? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a 
little time, and then vanisheth away.— ;/iw. 4, 

I Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, 
while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when 
thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. — Eccl. 12. 

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- 
ness ; and all these things shall be added unto you. — Matt, 6, 

I Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not 
what a day may bring forth. — Prov, 2y, 

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby 
ye have transgressed ; and make you a new heart and a new 
spirit : for why will ye die, O house of Israel ? 

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, 
saith the Lord God : wherefore turn yourselves^ and live ye. 
^Ez, 18, 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 39 

WILL YOU DECIDE FOR CHRIST? 

My Dear Friend: — As a friend I ask you, 
''Are you a Christian?" ''Are you safe?" I 
pray you consider this question. Eternity to you 
depends upon your decision. I do not ask you 
if you feel safe, because you see no danger. 
''There is no danger" has carried the sick man 
to the grave, it has driven the vessel upon the 
rock, and hastened millions of men to the judg- 
ment-seat of God with all their sins upon them. 
Don't conclude you are safe because you see no 
danger. Who sees the assassin? Who expects 
the thunderbolt ? You say I expect to be a Chris- 
tian sometime. Then you admit you are not 
safe. Will you then decide now? There is no 
peace for the sinner. Your restless spirit, un- 
easy heart and feverish brain tell you there is 
no rest out of Christ. 

Will you not decide and give your weary soul 
repose? As the needle can not find rest till it 
points to the pole, so your soul can not find rest 
until it finds rest in Jesus. 

When will you decide this great question ? To 
decide it safely, you must decide it according to 
God's will. You must decide it when he re- 
quires you to do so. He not only tells you what 
to do, but i^hen to do it. Your true obedience. 



40 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

then, depends upon both the what and the zuhen. 
Will you then obey the God who ''now com- 
mands all men to repent"? To say you will 
repent sometime is simply to scorn God's com- 
mand, for he says, ''Now is the accepted time." 
God does not ask you what you will do to-mor- 
row. You may never see to-morrow. You can 
not dictate to the Lord the time when you will 
decide this question. You must accept what he 
proposes. He invites you to come to-day. Would 
you allow a child to treat you thus? Would 
you allow a servant to trifle with you as you are 
trifling with God? 

A Roman embassador carried a message to 
a rebellious king. The king hesitated. The 
embassador drew a circle around him in the sand 
and said, "Decide before you pass out of this 
circle.'' The king dalHed no longer. Will you 
decide while you read this article? You have 
dallied, hesitated, and quibbled long enough. 
Decide now. To refuse to accept Jesus, is to 
decide against him. Why should you hesitate 
whether you will spend eternity in heaven or be 
banished from the presence of God forever? Oh, 
friend, come to Christ. Then you will be safe 
now, and safe in eternity. The joy-bells of 
heaven will ring if you will decide for Christ. 

10. / am Not Very Bad — / Have Committed 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 41 

no Great Sin. — To this class say, '^But you 
have committed the greatest sin possible.'' This 
statement may create some surprise. Then read 
Matt. 22: 37, 38. 

^y Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all 
thy mind. 

38 This is the first and great commandment. 

"If this is the greatest command, then what 
is the greatest sin?'' He will in all probability 
reply, "Breaking the greatest command." "Do 
you keep this command?" He will reply, "No." 
"Of what are you then guilty?" Let this verse 
carry conviction to his heart. 

Tell this class that there are two capital 
crimes, murder and treason. Treason is rebel- 
lion against the government. Jesus has estab- 
lished a government, the church, and asks all 
men to obey the laws of this government. To 
refuse to do so is treason to Christ. Study Jas. 
2: 10; Luke 16: 15. 

II. Do Not Like the Preacher. 

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, 
but in the power of God.—/ Cor. 2. 

Pay no attention to preachers. The preacher 
is only a little man, offering you the message. 
Accept the message. 



42 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

12. There Are So Many Hypocrites in the 
Church, 

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself 
to God. — J^om. 14. 

Salvation is a personal matter. If you refuse 
to obey the Saviour, you will have to spend 
eternity with hypocrites. 

13. / Am Afraid I Am Not One of the Elect. 

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto 
the knowledge of the truth. — / Ttm. 2. 

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him 
that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. 
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. — 
Rev. 22. 

The elect are those who obey God. All Chris- 
tians are elect. If you want to be one of the 
elect, be elected by obeying the gospel. 

14. 7 Am Not Concerned About the Future. 
Read Heb. 9: 

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after 
this the judgment. 

After time for reflection, ask the one with 
whom you are dealing if he is prepared for the 
judgment. He will likely tell you he is not. 
"Prepare to meet thy God.'* 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 43 

15. Do Not Think It Necessary to Confess 
Christ, 

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy month the Lord 
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised 
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; 
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
— Rom. 10. 

God tells you to confess. That settles the 
matter. 

16. Too Great a Cross to Be Baptized, 

16 And Jesus, when he was baptize!, went up straightway 
out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, 
and he saw the Spiiit of God descending like a dove, and 
lighting upon him. — Matt. 2. 

Jesus came on foot sixty miles to be baptized. 
He hung on the cross six hours for you. 

17. Can Not Hold Out, 

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto 
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. — / Pet. i. 

If the Christian does make mistakes, he has 
an advocate, Jesus, who will keep him. He can 
now go to his Father in prayer and be forgiven 
by him. Jesus says: 

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you : and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
end of the world. Amen. — Matt. 28. 



44 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, 
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. — Isa. ^i 

18. Can Not Give Up AIL 

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the 
whole world, and lose his own soul ? 

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ? 
--Mark 8. 

29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There 
is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, 
or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 

30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present 
time, and in the world to come life everlasting. — Luke 18. 

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples. If any man will 
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, 
and follow me. 

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it ; and who- 
soever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole 
world, and lose his own soul ? or what shall a man give in 
exchange for his soul ? — Matt. 16. 

29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, 
or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, 
for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall in- 
herit everlasting life. — Matt. ig. 

23 And he said to them all. If any man will come after 
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and 
follow me. — Luke 9. 

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and 
mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, 
and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 45 

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after 
me, cannot be my disciple. — Luke 14. 

Christianity can not be made a secondary mat- 
ter. It is worth everything or nothing. No 
price can be put upon it. 

Let the Christian worker reaHze the wide- 
reaching influence of his calHng, stretching far 
beyond the stars, to breathless eternity. Appro- 
priate the following promises : 

3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness ot 
the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as 
the stars for ever and ever. — Dan. 12. 

20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner 
from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and 
shall hide a multitude of sms.—Jas. j. 

Meet such excuses as ''I can't give up my 
companions/' ''My business will not permit me 
to come,"' ''My friends do not want me to come," 
similar to the above. The passages used in deal- 
ing with those who say "I can't give up all for 
Christ," w^ill apply to these classes. Some will 
tell you that they do not want to join during a 
revival. Show them that 75 per cent, of all who 
are in the churches came in during revivals. 
Ask all Christians in any audience to stand. 
Then tell all who came into the church during a 
revival to sit down. Seventy-five to 85 per cent, 
will sit down. 



46 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

CHAPTER V. 
The Bibi,b-Training Ci.ass. 

Christian workers should have a working 
knowledge of God's word. Give inquirers cor- 
rect advice. I have heard advice given that 
hinders rather than helps. It is not enough for 
you to say you are conscientious, you must be 
right. A traveling-man in Montana said to a 
poor woman on the train: '^Don't worry about 
when to get off of the train. I will tell you 
when you come to Bozeman.'' She looked at 
him and said, ''I thank you." The storm was 
raging. Two miles before the train reached 
Bozeman the train stopped a moment. The man 
said, ''This is your station." She stepped off 
into the snow and the train left her. When 
Bozeman was called, the traveling-man said, 
^'Conductor, was not that Bozeman where you 
stopped?" ''No. That was a snowdrift." "I 
put off that woman with a little babe." They 
backed the train only to find the woman and 
child had perished. He was conscientious, but 
wrong. 

A druggist gave the Governor of New Jersey 
a wrong prescription, it is said, and killed him. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 47 

The training class should consist of Christians 
who desire to be soul-winners. Secure a good 
leader. The minister is generally the best 
leader. After reading carefully the instructions 
on ''How to Use God's Word" (page 25), have 
a conversation about what is said. Ask many 
questions to see if the members have the 
correct understanding. Then pass to the first 
lesson under ''Excuses'' (page 28). If this 
class is organized to prepare for a revival, 
it should meet three or four times a week. 
Remain in session one hour, no longer. If the 
class is to aid the preacher in his regular work, 
once a wxek is often enough to meet. If 
desired, two or three lessons might be studied 
in one session. 

Lesson i. — Read carefully the first three 
chapters in this book, and study Chapter III. 
Hold a conference about personal work. Let 
the leader bring out new points about the quali- 
fications of the personal worker. 

Lesson 2. — Study Chapter II. Read carefully 
the beginning of Chapter IV. on "How to Use 
the Old Sword." Refute these objections your- 
self. Read suggestions. Take up Excuse No. i, 
'T am too great a sinner." Read in class all 
passages here given. Then give some other 
Scripture reference not given. Get at least one 



48 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

verse under each heading that yovi can quote, 
but be sure that you can tell where it is found. 
When you quote to a seeker, ''Though your 
sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow,'' 
always say Isa. i : i8. If you can not quote it, 
be able to turn to it quickly and read it. Then 
take up No. 2, 'T am lost." Treat it as above. 

Lesson 3. — Study No. 3 (page 30), 'T am 
good enough;'' No. 4, ''Backshder ;" No. 5, 
''Honest Doubters." Give other Scripture refer- 
ences under each heading. 

Lesson 4. — Study Numbers 6 to 10 inclusive. 
Review Lessons i, 2 and 3. Let one member 
ask the question, "Am I not good enough?" or 
"Is there any hope for me?" etc. Let the 
other members answer by giving a Scriptural 
reference. 

Lesson 5. — Take up Numbers 11 to 18 inclu- 
sive. Let members bring out other objections. 
Refute them by Scriptural reference. Refute 
these excuses: i. I don't know what to do. 2. 
I don't know what denomination to join. 3. 
Waiting for a divine call. 4. . Do not want to 
join the church in a revival. 5. Don't feel like 
it. Give other excuses and refute them. 

Lesson 6. — Study some of the great lessons in 
the teachings of Jesus. See how Jesus reached 
men and women. Study his divine art of win- 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 49 

ning men and women. See wherein he sur- 
passed all other teachers. Notice these points: 

He was a perfect teacher. He never had to 
correct a definition, change a statement or 
modify a sentence. Once uttered, it was adapted 
to the learned Greek, the ignorant barbarian of 
the first century, or the philosopher of the twen- 
tieth century. 

He zvas an authoritative teacher. Others came 
quoting. Jesus came crying: ''I say unto you;'' 
''Hear these sayings of mine ;" ''The heavens and 
the earth may pass away, but my words shall 
never pass away." Study his interview with 
Nicodemus (John 3: 1-16) ; the Samaritan wo- 
man (John 4: 7 to the end of the story) ; the 
sinful woman (John 8: 3 to the conclusion); 
the conversation with Zacchaeus (Luke 19: 2). 
Take other lessons from his word. 

Lesson 7. — How do you harmonize the sever- 
ity of Jesus with his tenderness in teaching? 
In severity he says, "Ye are vipers, hypocrites, 
whitened sepulchres, the sons of the devil," and 
even in the teachings to his own disciples he said, 
"One of you is a traitor." Remember that you 
must adapt yourselves to the person to whom 
you are speaking. To the poor, the needy and 
weak, tenderness and love. To the haughty and 
self-righteous, severe rebuke. Illustrate these 



50 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

points in the teachings of Jesus. To whom did 
he say: *'How shall ye escape the damnation of 
hell?"? Name a few things in his teaching in 
the Sermon on the Mount that were never 
taught by any teacher till Jesus came. 

Lesson 8. — Study Chapter VI. in this book, 
"The Pentecostal Revival." Give the great sub- 
jects Peter discussed. Read the entire chapter, 
Acts 2. Notice how Peter begins by declaring 
Jesus was a man. This they all accepted. This 
is the way to teach. Begin with the known. 
Pass on to the unknown. Begin where all agree. 
Lead up to the points that you desire to teach. 
Notice in the chapter that all of the apostles 
were personal workers. They were in harmony. 

Lesson 9. — Study New Testament conver- 
sions. Jesus prepared the way. See what he 
taught on the plan of salvation. He told his 
disciples what to preach (Matt. 28: 19, 20; 
Mark 16: 15, 16). Study the conversion of the 
eunuch (Acts 8: 26-40). Give the history of 
the conversion of Saul. Tell, in order, what a 
person must do to become a member of Christ's 
church. Every order has its ritual. What is 
God's ritual in order to admit men and women 
into his body? 

Lesson 10. — i. vStudy yourself. What is your 
greatest strength? Where can you do the most 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 51 

efifective work ? How to overcome your timid- 
ity? 

2. i\t the close of the evening meetings do 
personal work. People are more receptive at 
such a time. 

3. Read carefully Ez. 3: 17-19. Read Luke 
14: 16-24. See your personal responsibility. 

4. Have courage and hope. Don't worry or 
fret. Pay no attention to apparent insults or 
slurs. Be patient. Don't become discouraged 
because some will not hear you. Jesus was ridi- 
culed, and he bore insult without complaint. 

5. Do not spend too much time with the con- 
tentious. Some haughty people will not hear 
you. Go to others who are more receptive. Do 
not worry because you have not accomplished 
your desires. Go home, sleep soundly, and try 
again. Restlessness and worry cripple your 
work. Be of good cheer. 



52 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



CHAPTER VI. 

Thk Pkntkcostai, Rkvivai,. 

True evangelism should reproduce Pentecost 
in enthusiasm, preparation, conditions, preach- 
ing and resuhs. We hear much these days about 
Pentecostal revivals, Pentecostal sermons, and 
yet these revivals and sermons have no resem- 
blance to Pentecost. In order to have a Pente- 
costal revival, we must have Pentecostal methods 
and preaching. 

PREPARATION. 

For three years, Jesus was preparing his apos- 
tles for Pentecost. He prayed that they all 
might be one (John 17: 11). This prayer was 
answered on Pentecost, when they were all of 
one accord 

TEN DAYS OF PRAYER. 

For ten days his disciples continued in prayer. 
In order to reproduce Pentecost, God's people 
must continue in earnest prayer. Jesus went to 
the Father in prayer always before he did any 
great work. He prayed all night, and then 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 53 

preached the Sermon on the Mount. Before he 
called Lazarus from the grave, he prayed. 

CONDITIONS. 

We read in Acts 2 : i that the followers of 
Jesus were of one accord. Perfect harmony 
made Pentecost possible. Get right before God. 
Be at peace with all. Be of one mind, and God 
can use you. 

They were all in one place. If we desire a 
great awakening, we must all assemble in one 
place. There is power in great assemblies. If 
all Christians would assemble the very first 
night of the revival, we would have a revival 
at once. 

There was also unity of action, for all began 
to speak (Acts 2: 4). All became personal 
workers. James spoke to many in one part of 
the hall ; John, to another group, and Philip told 
the story of love to others. Let the church be 
so stirred that all will speak, and men will cry 
for mercy. They became enthusiasts for Christ. 
Dr. Dixon says : ''Truth on fire will burn its way 
into the soul. Truth on ice has no power." A 
more forcible way to express it is : Truth on 
fire saves. Truth on ice kills. But after this 
hour of personal work, Peter preached; then 
there was silence. All listened. 



54 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

THE SERMON. 

This sermon on the day of Pentecost is a 
model for all ages. It was adapted to the igno- 
rant barbarian of the first century and to the 
philosopher of the twentieth century. It is God's 
model sermon. Here is what Peter preached 
about Jesus : 

1. His humanity (Acts 2: 22). 

2. His humility (Acts 2: 23). 

3. His divinity (Acts 2: 24). 

4. His death (Acts 2: 23). 

5. His resurrection (Acts 2: 31). 

6. His exaltation (Acts 2: 33). 

7. His lordship (Acts 2: 36). 

Now, if we want a Pentecostal revival, we 
must reproduce the preaching of that day. 
What a sermon that was ! He preached the 
great truths. No man can reproduce Pente- 
costal influences unless he preaches the human- 
ity, divinity, humility, death, resurrection, exal- 
tation and lordship of Jesus. Peter preached 
a full Christ. 

RESULTS. 

When those who were pierced to the heart 
cried out, "Men and brethren, what must we 
do?" (Acts 2:37), Peter gave the divine an- 
swer, "Repent, and be baptized every one of 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 55 

you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remis- 
sion of sins." Remember, this was the Spirit of 
God that gave this answer. The Bible tells us 
that they that received the word were baptized. 
The preaching that causes men to cry for mercy, 
will lead them to be baptized. This wonderful 
sermon brought three thousand to Jesus. If we 
are to have a Pentecostal revival, we must 
preach as Peter preached, and victory is sure. 



56 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



CHAPTER VII. 
Bkfork the Rkvivai,. 

Great preparation should be made before the 
evangeUst arrives. The whole church should get 
ready. Expectation should be high. Every 
member should prepare himself for the meeting. 

KEEP OUT OF OLD RUTS. • 

Do not load the evangelist down with old cus- 
toms. The usual order of seating and music 
may be changed. The work in the Sunday- 
school and young people's societies may be 
changed. Be ready to concede any change 
willingly, 

KEEP SWEET. 

Something may be said that does not please 
you. Keep cool ; it was not said for you. 

HOW TO BEGIN. 

I. Get right before God and men. Be at peace 
with all the brothers and sisters. We can not 
win victories for the Lord when there is sin 
in the camp. Should you know brothers who 
are at enmity, be a peacemaker. 




CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 57 

2. Pray daily for these meetings. 

3. Begin the study of God's word. It is your 
weapon of warfare. Many persons pray for 
power when there is a magazine of power (the 
Bible) before them and they will not appro- 
priate it. Carry your Bible with you. 

4. Now is all the time you have. Be a worker. 
Only two classes are invited to these meetings — 
the unsaved and those who are trying to save 
some one. 

5. See that the best seats are given to visit- 
ing friends. Yoii can sit anywhere. 

6. Select some one whom you desire to 
bring to Christ, and never be content until you 
can say, ''I brought one soul to Christ." 

7. See that these meetings have the right of 
way. Let lodges, entertainments, domestic and 
business affairs be placed on the side track. 
Subordinate Sunday-schools, Endeavor societies 
and all other church work to these meetings. 

8. It is a wicked waste of time and money 
to spend one week to get ready. Begin at once ; 
do not wait one week to get warmed up. 

9. Let your conversation be about soul-saving. 

ORDER. 

"Order is God's first law." Strive for order. 
Some preachers can hold meetings amid con- 



58 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

fusion: the more noise the better for them. 
Not so with us. A slight annoyance may ruin 
a meeting. Suffer no disorder. There is a 
power in silence. Observe these rules. 

REGULATIONS. 

1. Obey ushers. They have orders to follow. 
The task is arduous. Go where they a3k you. 

2. If you expect to leave the room before the 
conclusion of service, secure a seat where you 
can retire unnoticed. 

3. Let children sit by parents, and not cluster 
together. 

4. If you come late, take the first vacant seat. 
Never come to the front after the preaching 
begins. 

5. Never retire during invitation. 

6. Wise parents will never allow a fretful- 
baby to ruin a service. I have known an entire 
service destroyed by a crying baby. Secure seats 
where, if the child becomes annoying to the 
service, you can pass quietly to a side room. 
One of our greatest revivalists said, ''Good reso- 
lutions and crying babies should be carried out.'* 
Never allow children to run over the house 
during service. 

7. Enter the church quietly and retire seri- 
ously and prayerfully. Loud and frivolous 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 59 

talking should not be allowed. Solemnity should 
permeate the entire service. 

USHERS. 

The work of the ushers is of great impor- 
tance. They are to look after all things per- 
taining to seating, comfort and order, also to do 
earnest personal work among the unconverted, 
introduce strangers, and be on the alert to bring 
souls to Christ. You can readily see the ushers 
should be consecrated Christians. 

1. Select none but Christians of good report 
among all men. 

2. Never select boys -or careless persons. 

3. The chief usher should have the oversight 
of this work. 

To Ushers. — Observe carefully these points: 

1. Seat the front part of the house first. As- 
sign persons seats where you think is best, not 
where they want to go. 

2. Never seat mothers with small children in 
the front. Give them seats where they can re- 
tire easily if necessary. 

3. Never seat persons during prayer, the sing- 
ing of a solo or a duet. Let them stand till solo 
or prayer is finished. 

4. Never under any condition bring any one 
to the front after the sermon begins. 



60 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

5. Give the best seats to those who you have 
reasons to beheve may confess Christ. 

6. Do not permit selfish people to sit in the 
end of a row of seats. Push them over, so 
that people will not be compelled to climb over 
them. 

ADVERTISING. 

Methods, organization and advertising can not 
take the place of preaching the Word. Some- 
times we may depend too much upon organiza- 
tion, and neglect to proclaim the Word. Nothing 
can take the place of gospel preaching. 

The methods of advertising here presented 
are mere suggestions. What is applicable to 
one community may be unsuited to another. To 
use the extensive methods of the city in the vil- 
lage, smacks of ostentation and dazzle. To go 
into the city with a few poorly printed cards, 
courts defeat and ridicule. We must discern 
the signs of the times. 

Judicious advertising is valuable. In regular 
church work a weekly bulletin will greatly in- 
crease attendance and interest. 

PREPARATION. 

jMany weeks should be spent in getting ready 
for a revival. Increasing the attendance of the 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 61 

Sunday-school, holding council meetings with 
leading members, holding cottage prayer-meet- 
ings in dififerent places in the city, planning 
meetings for country churches and schoolhouses, 
and distributing tracts, announcements and pa- 
pers throughout the community, will prepare 
the way. 

The young people of the church will take 
delight in country trips where they can hold 
open-air meetings, or meetings in the country 
schoolhouses or residences. In all these gath- 
erings talk about the coming revival. Leave 
placards announcing the date, the evangelist and 
his assistants. If the definite date can not be 
given, say about such a date. 

PERSONAL CANVASS. 

Above all, do not neglect the taking of a relig- 
ious census. This is by far the most important 
work to be done before the revival begins. 

TAKING THE CENSUS. 

Divide the city into divisions containing about 
two or three hundred residences, which will con- 
tain from six to eight hundred people. Neglect 
not the outlying districts. In dividing the city, 
make sensible districts, say, like this: First dis- 
trict will consist of both sides of First Street 



62 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



and the intervening streets to Second Street. 
District 2: Both sides of Second Street and 
intervening streets to Third, etc. Or District 
No. 12: All east of the railroad and north of 
Tenth Street. Put a canvasser over each divis- 
ion. Let the canvasser find at least one to go 
with him. The leader in the district must know 
all about the people in her district. Use a can- 
vass card like this: 



CANVASS CARD. 

Name of family 

Street No 

Number in family over ten years of age. 

Husband 

Wife 

Children 

Information 

District No 

Name of Canvasser 



Put on these cards the names of all who are 
not members of any church, or those who have 
not gone into any congregation. 

Be thorough, and know the people in your dis- 
trict. Fill cards accurately. 



1 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 63 

When opportunity offers, hold conversation 
with strangers. Become enthusiastic for the 
coming meetings and let the revival be your 
theme of conversation. Not only take names, 
but talk up the coming revival. When your 
card is filled out, it should read somewhat as 
follows : 



CANVASS CARD. 

Name of family — J. C. Brown. 

Street No. — 202 Main. 

Number in family over ten years of age — ^4. 

Husband — No church. 

wife — Once a Baptist, but does not hold member- 
ship here. 

Children — Daughter a member of M. B. Church, 
and the son (James) not a member, but prefers 
the Christian Church. 

District No. — 3. 

Name of Canvasser — Clara Johnson. 



In addition to the canvass card, carry a neat 
invitation announcing the meetings. Leave one 
at every home. The leader of the district should 
not be satisfied with one visit. Take some one 
with you and carry another announcement to all 



64 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

who are out of Christ. Continue these visits 
until you gain a victory. 

ADVERTISING COMMITTEE. 

It will be your duty to make all realize the 
importance of the meetings. 

SUGGESTIONS. 

1. A large placard printed in large black let- 
ters, large enough to be read one block, will 
create interest. Post them in conspicuous places. 
Announce place, date, evangelist and assist- 
ants. 

2. A banner over church door and a large one 
across the street will do much good. 

3. A window hanger, about 12x18 inches, 
with cuts of evangelist, assistants, ministers, 
leader of song, announcing the date and place, 
can be used to good effect. Put one in every 
business place, and ask all who are interested 
to put one in the front windows of their homes. 
This will be a sign to all Christian workers that 
that home is a Christian home. 

4. Bulletin-boards are indispensable. Small tri- 
angular boards, announcing each day the subject 
of the sermon and song, will be read by hun- 
dreds. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 65 

TRANSPARENCIES. 

Transparencies serve a good purpose. Put 
one in the gas or electric light over church door 
announcing, "Revival here each night conducted 

by y The transparent lantern can be 

made useful. This little device is a wooden 
frame twelve inches square, with canvas in 
black letters on each side, and a lamp or candle 
on the inside. These canvas lanterns may be 
placed in prominent places. Two or three close 
together will attract attention. A moving trans- 
parency will create interest. With lanterns as 
above, let a band of fifty young people about 
dusk go through the streets. These moving 
transparencies are especially valuable in working 
up special night meetings like a mass-meeting 
for all churches at 9 130 on Sunday night. This 
will gather many persons to the extra meeting. 

PAPERS. 

Use the papers. Appoint a press committee. 
Give extract of sermons, special announcements, 
and any other information that will encourage 
people to come to the meetings. No evangelist 
can do his best as a preacher until he has the 
people. Get a great audience, and a great meet- 
ing is assured. All advertising should be for 
the purpose of getting the multitudes. 



m CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

THE LARGENESS OF EXPRESSION. 

If you have never studied the subject, you will 
be amazed at the largeness of expression in the 
preaching of the apostles and other divine 
writers of the New Testament. ''Multitudes," 
''many,'' "the whole city," "much people,'' "all 
people," "three thousand," "all men glorified 
God," and similar expressions like multiplied^ in- 
creased daily, five thousand, great multitudes of 
both Jews and Greeks, great numbers, great 
company of priests, and many other expressions 
of greatness, are found throughout the Book of 
Acts. 

Large thoughts, large audiences, and large 
results go together. If we lead the multitudes 
to Christ, the masses must hear the gospel. Go 
to the highways and the byways, and great audi- 
ences will gladly hear the word and multitudes 
will turn to the Lord. Reach the masses. 

COMMITTEE ON SMALL THINGS. 

This committee will do what no one else is 
willing to do. There are so many details and 
small duties that do not come under any com- 
mittee, that this committee seems a necessity. 
It should be composed of sensible people, but 
not sensitive people. Be willing to do little 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 67 

things, for which there is no pubHc praise or 
reward from men. 

CONCLUSION. 

Have faith and courage. Do not be discour- 
aged because great interest is not manifested at 
once. Work patiently. Remember that 75 per 
cent, of all who are in the church entered during 
revival meetings. After men arrive at the age of 
twenty-five but few unite with the church out- 
side of gospel meetings. Brother, what are you 
doing? ''Nothing,'' you say. But you are, you 
are destroying your time. 

Will you be a helper? Let every Sunday- 
school teacher say, ''My class for Christ.'' En- 
deavorers, strive to make all associate members 
active members. 

You do not have to be a singer, an usher or 
to go on any committee, but when you accept 
any place of duty, fulfill your work faithfully 
.and cheerfully. 

THE LAST WORDS. 

Do not say, "We have not time to work.'* 
Y on must take time. If you are not willing to 
work, do not call an evangelist. You have no 
right to invite an evangelist, and then plead you 
are too busy to work. Begin to win a victory. 



68 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Aftkr thk Revivai, Begins. 

Do your work promptly and cheerfully. You 
do not have to be a singer, an usher or act on 
any committee, but when you accept a duty, be 
sure to perform the work allotted to you. To 
have no part in the revival work is sinful. In 
time of peace soldiers may rest, but when a 
battle is raging he is a traitor if he steps out of 
line. Now battle is on. A terrible conflict is 
waged against the combined armies of Satan 
and the powers of this world. The bugle notes 
are calling. To turn back is treason. To pause 
is cowardice. To desert your post of duty may 
defeat the entire army. Let no amusement or 
business, if possible, take you away from the 
ranks of the soldiers of the Lord. 

Hindrances in Rkvivai. Work. 

the dummy. 

A ship crossing the ocean was losing time. 
The captain said to the engineer, ''What is 
wrong?" He replied: "See that central piston. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 69 

It is a dummy. It does no lifting. The other 
two pistons are carrying the dummy." There 
are many dummies in the church. They do no 
lifting. The workers carry them, and hence lose 
time. In a revival we need only two classes : 
The unsaved and those who are trying to save 
some one. 

"too nice people.'* 

Some church-members are too nice to be use- 
ful. Everything out of the ordinary shocks 
them. A song that is not long meter is a live 
wire to them. They are nervous, for really the 
preacher may say something unusual. They 
are anxious for fear some one may confess the 
Christ who does not come from the best classes. 
They counsel all to be cautious and not to get 
excited. The evangelist is afraid of these nice 
people, because they chill all the services. In 
order to have souls born into the kingdom, we 
must have proper atmospheric conditions. The 
revival climate is warm and moist. These cold- 
hearted people check enthusiasm. On account 
of their icy hearts, the revival is snow-bound. 
Over-sensitive people are never good workers. 

LITTLE ANNOYANCES. 

Little annoyances may cripple the meeting. 
One of our preachers said to me that an idiotic 



70 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

boy caused his meeting to fail. Every night 
just about the time he began his sermon, this 
unfortunate boy would walk down the aisle to 
the front seat. His idiotic laugh and silly be- 
havior took away the solemnity. The parents 
of the boy should have been kindly asked to 
keep him at home. 

Moody says when he first began to preach, a 
young man sat in front of him, reading the song- 
book. Said ]\Ioody, 'T would have given one 
hundred dollars if that man had closed his book 
and looked at me." I was then young. Now 
I would say, *'Young man, read your song-book 
to-morrow. Look at me." Inattention, reading 
a song-book, restlessness and indifference may 
cause brain storms. Those who can not be 
interested should remain away. Sour, sulky, 
cross members, by unkind remarks, try the pa- 
tience of the preacher. Promptness, attention, 
sympathy, hope and good cheer encourage him. 

W^HAT A REVIVAL SHOULD ACCOMPLISH. 

Every revival should accomplish four things: 
I. The winning of many souls. We hear many 
preachers declare that they are not struggling 
for numbers. They are preaching, not counting, 
they tell us. But after all the folly of counting 
— and there is much of this foolish counting that 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 71 

borders on falsehood — the revival that does not 
bring men and women to Jesus, fails. The meet- 
ing is not large enough as long as there is an 
unconverted man in the community. 

2. The enlarging the circle of influence. New 
famiHes should be enlisted so that the minister 
and the workers will have new material for 
Sunday-school and church. This should increase 
attendance in Sunday-school and regular church 
services. The meeting that does not help the 
regular work of the church is a partial failure. 
After a revival singers should sing sweeter, 
the officers should pray and work better, and 
all should work harmoniously for the advancing 
of the cause of the Master. 

3. The revival should create an awakening in 
Bible study. 

4. The membership should be brought into 
sweeter and closer fellowship. This will lighten 
the burdens of the church. 

THE INVITATION. 

The invitation is the crisis in the history of 
soul-saving. It is the critical moment in which 
men and women will accept or reject Jesus. 
Levity in preacher, frivolity among singers or 
inattention among members will ruin, or greatly 
mar, the invitation. 



72 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Concentration and solemnity mean victory. 
Distraction and indifference court defeat. Dr. 
Oliver pithily says: ''Beware of the innocent 
janitor. Hold him still while souls are in the 
balance." Dr. Chapman remarks: "In this mo- 
ment of decision be quiet and serious.'' Chas. 
Reign Scoville says: "When the invitation song 
is announced, let every one spring to his feet 
immediately. No one should remain seated while 
sinners are urged to come to Christ. The old 
and the feeble who can not stand should be 
given side seats, so that those who desire to 
confess Christ are not compelled to climb over 
them in order to come forward.'' 

Sluggish church-members who are too lazy to 
stand have ruined many meetings. Never sit 
down during the singing of an invitation. Tie 
up the provoking janitor, still the overimpor- 
tant usher, and quiet the children. 

Restlessness, Inattention, or a show of weari- 
ness, is fatal. In a meeting one night, when a 
number had come to Christ, the leading soprano 
singer stalked out of the choir, and went home. 
She attracted the attention of all. The interest 
in the meeting was gone. One silly woman had 
brought defeat. No one should retire during 
the invitation. Members of the choir should re- 
main till services end. If, for some reason, a 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 73 

member must retire before the meeting closes, 
he should remain out of the choir that night. 

In this hour of decision forget everything ex- 
cept to press decision upon persons almost per- 
suaded. Forget the clock, if you are foolish 
enough to have one. The only movement should 
be from those who press decision upon some 
one. They should watch the signs of those 
under conviction, and ur^e an immediate sur- 
render. 



74 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



CHAPTER IX. 
Thk Singkr and His Song. 

Much that has been said about the evangelist 
will apply with equal force to the singing evan- 
gelist. He should be a personal worker, not a 
mere soloist. He who can do nothing but sing 
a nice solo never sings the solo well. He must 
sing, pray and work in order to sing from the 
heart. He who has sat in his room all day, or 
idled the hours away in giddy society, can not 
sing unto the Lord. Go from your knees to the 
meeting. Carry a message in your song. Oper- 
atic singing in a revival is as much out of place 
as a waltz at a funeral, a dirge at a picnic, or a 
war-song by the bedside of the sick. 

It is doubtful if the pure blood of Christ ever 
courses through the veins of hired singers. The 
singer should adapt his songs to the stage in the 
meeting. At the beginning of the meetings the 
songs may be more joyous than after the meet- 
ings have been in progress for a number of 
nights. The first few nights songs to awaken 
enthusiasm may be sung. 

There must also be an adaptation to the con- 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 75 

ditions of the audience each night. At the open- 
ing of the meeting any song of lofty sentiment 
may be sung. These very songs are worthless 
after an appeal has been made. 

The singer must not sing merely to entertain. 
Here is a great temptation to song leaders. They 
have worked up some fine choruses during the 
week. Sunday night the audience is large. The 
singer wants to put his chorus on parade, and 
often he does it to great spiritual loss. I had 
a singer say to me once after I had given an in- 
vitation, and all the audience was tearful: ''See, 
Mrs. Blank has come in from the other church. 
She came to hear me sing. May I sing this 
song?" The song was not in any way suited 
to the stage of our meeting. If Peter on Pente- 
cost had secured a classic singer from Greece, a 
quartet of Pharisees, and a chorus of Sadducees, 
no one would have cried, ''What must I do?'' 
An invitation on that day sung to the tune, 
"When the Swallows Homeward Fly," would 
not have made Pentecost historic. 

The singer's desire to attract attention has 
crippled many services. Humility is the fairest 
flower that ever bloomed. It is too delicate to 
look at itself and live. There comes a moment 
when decision is in the balance. In this critical 
hour the singer should be lost in his song. A 



76 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

long recitative solo would be as much out of 
place as a sermon on hereditary sin. Nearly 
every song should be a note of joy, an appeal 
or an exhortation. Our hymnology of late has 
been defective along this line. A few new 
songs, with tender, plaintive airs on such sub- 
jects as *'Going away from Christ," *'The mid- 
night opportunity," ''Decide just now," "Come, 
now, sinner, Jesus calls," will be of great value. 
I see the need of them every meeting I hold. 

The following article was furnished by one 
of our best singing evangelists, Miss Lucile 
May Park: 

Power of Song. ^ 

Lucile May Park. 

It took the church a long time to realize the 
power of song in regular church services as -in 
evangelism. In earlier revivals music played a 
small part. But when such men as Bliss and 
Sankey introduced sacred music in their own 
individual way, the Christian world was brought 
to see the gospel could be sung as effectively as 
preached. Great results were accomplished by 
them in their ministration of song. The song 
evangelist has and is wielding a mighty influ" 
ence in evangelism. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 77 

May we not notice a few essential things to 
the making of an efficient song evangeHst and 
successful worker in this great field? 

A Christian. — It is scarcely necessary to 
mention that he should be a Christian, and still 
there are those who think they can sing a mes- 
sage that they have not accepted. He must be 
a Christian in order to realize the position of 
trust he occupies. He must know he is here on 
business for his King, and that the King's busi- 
ness requires haste. That he is among the 
people as one who serves, and not to be waited 
on and entertained. His work is to be a real 
help to all. 

Preparation. — There is need of great prepa- 
ration, for a great work is to be done. Plan your 
work, then work your plan. The voice shoulci 
be properly trained so its greatest sweetness and 
beauty may be in each song. Clear, distinct 
enunciation is absolutely necessary to successful 
solo work, as also chorus work. Careful study 
of each song should not be neglected. Each 
song has its message. Commit your words so 
thoroughly that you can stand before your audi- 
ence bringing a message that will mean some- 
thing. Be not overconfident — ^that is, conceited 
— ^but give God all the glory. 

Co-operation with the Evangelist. — ^The 



78 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

singer should understand the evangeHst so well, 
and his methods of work, that there may be no 
confusion when they come to the service. 

The Chorus. — It is a splendid idea, if pos- 
sible, to send the song evangelist into the field 
several days before the evangelist. If such can 
be done, a great chorus can be organized and 
well drilled for the beginning of a great cam- 
paign, without loss of time and preparation in 
music. Large choruses are preferable, if the 
leader can handle them. Much depends on a 
well-ordered, well-organized and well-drilled 
chorus. In chorus work the singer must needs 
use great tact and skill in order to keep every- 
thing harmonious. 

When the revival has fully commenced, the 
chorus should become the best personal work- 
ers. A brief prayer at the close of rehearsal 
will do much to uplift your singers and keep 
them sweet-spirited. Do not fail to let them 
know you appreciate their efforts, if they are 
doing their best. Three things should be asked 
of the chorus singers: Promptness, regularity 
and consecration. 

The personality of the song evangelist should 
be such as to command the attention and con- 
fidence of the people the moment he appears 
upon the platform. Perfect order, harmony and 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 79 

sympathy are necessary to the accomplishment 
of a great work, and the singer can be a tower 
of strength and help in this particular. 

The Children. — One characteristic of the 
song evangelist should be a great love for chil- 
dreru *The hearts of the parents are often 
reached through the children. Organize them 
into a chorus of their own. Give them drills 
every morning, if it be in the summer vacation; 
otherwise, have them come direct from school 
for a short while. 

Teach them^order, quiet, reverence for God's 
house, gentleness, kindness, and a thousand 
other needed lessons. You can afford to take 
time to visit each schoolroom, if only to see what 
the children are doing there, even if you are not 
asked to sing or say anything to the children. 
Learn a number of child songs so as to be ready 
for anything that may be asked of you. Vary 
your drills. Children will lose interest. Prepare 
the children for their own special meeting, which 
can be held very profitably on Saturday even- 
ings. Let the children sing the songs you have 
taught them in the special morning meetings. 
These, with the work the evangelist does, will 
prove a help to all. Everything that is done 
should have the one great thought of soul-win- 
ning. 



80 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Invitation. — Usually the evangelist prefers 
to select and announce his own invitation hymn, 
and surely no one is better fitted to do so than 
he who who has stood before thousands and 
noted what is best. If left to the singer, choose 
those which are familiar to the audience as well 
as to the chorus. A song so well committed 
that the singers and audience can sing ''Come to 
Jesus'' from their hearts, is sure to be effective. 

The chorus should realize that the leader is a 
speciahst in his' line of work. All should give 
him their heartiest support. He may not do 
things your way. He may seem very peculiar in 
some ways. But give him your help and influ- 
ence. If you have any suggestions to make, 
make them, but do not feel badly if he does not 
choose to adopt them. Do your duty. Follow 
your leader, asking no questions. Remember, 
too, that there are women who are just as capa- 
ble of doing this work as men. All that has 
been written applies to them as to men. 

Do not worry, but work. 
Do not fear, but follow. 
Do not pine, but pray. 
Do not trouble, but trust. 

Then, at the close of a great meeting, all will 
know what real service is. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 81 



CHAPTER X. 
STU'DIBS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST. 

Study I. 

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY. 

Before we study the biography of any one, 
we should know the history and biography of 
the land in which he Hves. 

On the east end of the Mediterranean Sea 
there is a Httle country (Palestine) which on 
the map of the world looks like a little thread; 
yet there is in this land every variety of cli- 
mate on the earth. Yonder in the north is Mt. 
Hermon, snow-capped all the year. When we 
come down to the Sea of Galilee we are six hun- 
dred feet below the sea. Here is a mild climate. 
When we reach the Dead Sea we are thirteen 
hundred feet below sea-level, and we have a hot 
climate. To the east and south is the hot, 
parched desert. In this little land we find the 
epitome of the world's climate. 

Whenever any divine writer uses either of the 
words river, mountain, valley, desert, lake or 
hill coimtry, the inhabitants of earth understand 



82 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

the meaning. This country has been known as 
Canaan, the land of Israel, the land of promise. 
Palestine proper lies west of Jordan, but its 
boundary has changed at different times. 

The Holy Land, in the time of Christ, con- 
sisted of four divisions. West of Jordan the 
area was nine thousand square miles ; east of 
Jordan, three thousand miles. The entire area 
of the land was twelve thousand square miles. 
It is about one hundred and forty miles long, 
and forty-five miles wide — about the size of 
Maryland. 

Judaea. — In the time of Christ, Judaea, the 
southern division, was the largest and most im- 
portant. Here was the holy Temple, the Jewish 
rulers, and the seat of religious influence. Ju- 
daea was the home of the Jews. 

Samaria. — North of Judaea was Samaria. It 
was inhabited by a mixed race — Jews and pagans. 
This mongrel race was unfriendly to other na- 
tions, and especially the Jews. They made Mt. 
Gerizim the place of worship. 

Galilee. — The north province was Galilee. It 
was densely populated, and the richest country. 
Half of the population of Palestine lived there. 
The population was largely Jewish, yet many 
Gentiles wxre here in business. 

Perea. — East of Jordan was Perea, inhabited 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 83 

by shepherds and warUke people. This was the 
grazing-land of the Jewish people. 

Jerusalem was the capital of the land of 
Christ. It is located in latitude 32, about the 
same as Savannah, Ga. It is about twenty miles 
west of the Dead Sea, and about twenty-five 
miles from the Mediterranean. Here was loca- 
ted the Temple. Here Jesus did much teaching 
and preaching. He died outside of the city, on 
Mt. Calvary. 

Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born, 
is six miles south of Jerusalem. It was called 
the city of David. Here David was born, lived 
and sang. Here, seventeen hundred years be- 
fore Jesus was born, Jacob buried his beloved 
Rachel. Here Boaz courted and married Ruth. 

Nazareth of Galilee, seventy miles north of 
the Holy City, was the resident city of Jesus. 
It now has a population of four thousand. 

Capernaum, ninety miles north of the city of 
Jerusalem, was the resident home of Jesus dur- 
ing his public ministry. It was his "own city" 
by adoption. Notice, Jesus was driven out of 
the home of his birth, Bethlehem ; rejected in the 
home of his residence, Nazareth, and expelled 
from the home of his adoption, Capernaum. 

Jericho was the home of Herod. It is eigh- 
teen miles east and a little north of Jerusalem. 



84 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

The Fords of the Jordan, about twenty-five 
miles northeast of Jerusalem, on the east side 
of the river, is where Jesus was baptized. 

Bethabara is a few miles north of the Fords 
and on the same side of the river. Here John 
was baptizing when he pointed out Jesus as the 
Lamb of God. 

Joppa, thirty-six miles northwest of Jerusa- 
lem, is the oldest seaport town in the world. 

Hebron, twenty-two miles southwest of Jeru- 
salem, is the oldest city in the world, a rival of 
Damascus. Great events are clustered around 
this little city. Here Mary visited Elisabeth. 
John the Baptist was born here. 

I here give a little diagram that may aid in 
locating the important points. I let Bethlehem 
(six miles from Jerusalem) be the shortest line 
— one-sixth of an inch. Then Jericho is eighteen 
miles from Jerusalem, three times as far as 
Bethlehem. The line to Jericho must then be 
east, and three times as long as to Bethlehem, 
hence one-half an inch. The line to Samaria, 
thirty-six miles, should go northwest, and be 
twice as long as the one to Jericho. To Naz- 
areth (north) is almost twice as far as to Sa- 
maria. Some amusement may be created by 
' sending the class to blackboard and have them 
reproduce this diagram from memory. Always 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 



85 



let Jerusalem be the starting-place, and the line 
to the city must be in the direction of the place, 
and in proportion in length, allowing six miles 
to Bethlehem to be the shortest measurement. 
With Jerusalem as a center, run lines to other 
cities and places like Bethel, Damascus, Tyre and 
any others that you may select. 




BETHABARA 

FORD OF JORDAN 
ERICHO 



86 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

THE WRITERS OF THE FOUR GOSPELS 

Matthew. — History, Matthew was one of 
the apostles, a Jew, called Levi the publican. 
Jesus called him from his office at the receipt 
of customs. He wrote the first Gospel. 

To Whom Written, His Gospel was written 
to the Jews who believed in the God of the Old 
Testament. He tried to convince the Jews that 
this Jesus was their prophet, and the Messiah 
pointed out by their prophecies. 

Matthew zcrofe to prove that Jesus of Naza- 
reth was the Messiah that the Jews expected. 
Although they had killed him, he was still their 
King. He traces the descent of Jesus to Abra- 
ham, the founder of the Jewish nation. He 
wrote about the gospel of the kingdom. He 
uses the word ^'kingdom" about fifty times, and 
endeavors to show that Jesus is a heavenly King, 
and not an earthly ruler. He deals entirely with 
the past history of the Jews, always pointing to 
the law for proof. He records the great sermon 
and exhortations of Jesus. He makes the par- 
ables prominent. 

Mark. — History. ]\Iark was not an apostle. 
He was the companion of Peter, Paul and 
Barnabas. 

He wrote to the Romans, who had no proph- 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 87 

ecies pointing to the coming Deliverer. They 
cared nothing about the ancestors, descent and 
family relationship. They deified power. 

Mark, therefore, wrote to prove that Jesus 
was a powerful King. He demonstrated that 
the acts of Jesus were more wonderful than 
those of Caesar. He made no special appeal to 
the Jewish Scriptures, but went on showing how 
Jesus worked mighty miracles. Miracle upon 
miracle follows in quick succession. He shows 
that the gospel was power, and that Jesus was 
an almighty King, and then declared that this 
gospel must go to every creature. 

Luke. — History, He was not one of the apos- 
tles. Luke was a Greek physician, hence a Gen- 
tile. The Greek language was the language of 
culture. He was a companion of Paul. He was 
born in Antioch. 

He wrote to the Gentile world, who made their 
gods. Their gods were men like themselves. 
The Greeks deified man. Hence Luke deals 
extensively with the humanity of Jesus. He 
wrote to show that Jesus was a perfect man, 
Luke traces the descent of Jesus to Adam, the 
common father of all. His Gospel was the gos- 
pel of good cheer. According to Luke, Jesus 
came to save both Jew and Gentile — a gospel 
for all the world. 



88 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

John. — History, He was the loving apostle, 
the brother of James. His father was Zebedee, 
and his mother, Salome. 

He zirote to Christians Aity years after Mat- 
thew wrote to the Jews. He wrote to show that 
Jesus was the Saviour of the world. He was 
writing .to those who had become the followers 
of Christ, hence he showed them that Jesus 
was the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Bread, the 
Water of Life, and the Light of the world. 

He wrote largely of spiritual life, and to those 
who already possessed the three other Gospels. 
]\Iatthew deals with the past history of the Jews ; 
Mark, the present; Luke, with the future; but 
John deals with eternity, John goes back of 
time, and declares Jesus was the Word with God 
before creation. 

. Notice that ]\Iark begins with the present, for 
he wrote to the Romans, who cared nothing for 
ancestors. Matthew goes back to Abraham, for 
he wrote to the Jews, who claimed Abraham as 
their father. Luke goes still further back — to 
Adam — because he wrote to the Gentiles, and he 
desired to show that Adam was the father of all 
men. John goes back before the foundation of 
the earth. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 89 

REVIEW. 

1. How many of these four writers are men- 
tioned after Pentecost? 

2. Which is the most prominent as a preacher? 

3. Which the most extensive writer? 

4. Who Hved the longest? 

5. Tell any history that you know about them. 

6. Which Gospel deals the most with parables ? 

7. Which Gospel deals the most with miracles ? 

8. Which Gospel deals the most with spiritual 
affairs ? Why ? 

9. Which one gives the best chronology? 

10. Which deals most with prophecy? Why? 

Study II. 

CHRIST IN PROPHECY. 

Men have their lives written after they die. 
Jesus had his life written from fifteen hundred 
to four hundred years before he was born : writ- 
ten in prophecy ; read by Greek, Roman and Jew. 
Five hundred prophecies refer to Jesus. About 
one hundred and five times the Old Testament 
tells us what Jesus would do. One hundred and 
five times the New Testament tells us that these 
things were done. The one — the Old Testament 
«*— was prophecy. The other — the New Testa- 



90 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

ment — was biography. Prophecy is history be- 
fore it occurs. 

PROPHETIC ARROWS. 

Suppose five men would stand here to-night, 
each with a quiver of ten arrows. They desire 
to shoot the arrows into the center of the target. 
They do not know where the target is. It may be 
here, yonder or there. Man No. i stands at a sta- 
tion fifteen hundred yards from the target. He 
sends his ten arrows out into the darkness. Man 
No. 2 advances and stands at a station one thou- 
sand yards from the target. He sends his ar- 
rows out into the inky blackness. No. 3 stands 
eight hundred yards, and No. 4 six hundred 
yards from the target. No. 5 and last advances 
and stands but four hundred yards from the 
target. They send their arrows forward. You 
call for lights, and all fifty arrows are in the cen- 
ter of the bulFs-eye. What would you say about 
such an occurrence? You would say such a 
thing could not take place by chance. Let us 
call up a few prophetic arrows. 

Moses stands fifteen hundred years from the 
coming of the Lord. He sends his arrows into 
the future, which is inky blackness. He tells us 
that Jesus will be a prophet like unto Moses. 

David advances, and, standing yonder one 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 91 

thousand years from the birth of Christ, sends 
forward three hundred prophecies. What won- 
derful things he says ! He tells us that while on 
the cross Jesus would cry: "My God, my God, 
why hast thou forsaken me?" 

Then Isaiah, Daniel and Malachi, at different 
stations, send their arrows into the future. We 
call for lights, and there are five hundred pro- 
phetic arrows centered in Jesus. No skeptic has 
ever tried to answer this argument. Christianity 
is the only religion that appeals to prophecy for 
its authenticity. Remember, these prophecies 
were read not only by the Jews, but by Roman, 
Greek and barbarian. The place of Christ's 
birth, the manner of his life, and the suffering 
on the cross, were all read long before he walked 
the earth. 

Name ten of the most wonderful prophecies. 
Read them. Tell where found. 

PROPHECY. FULFILLMENT. 

Gen. 3 : 15, 16 Gal. 4 : 4 

Ex. 12: 46 John 19: 33-36 

Deut. 18: 15-18 Acts 3 : 20-22 

Ps. 22\ I, 13, 16, 18. . .Matt. 27:46; John 20: 25 

Isa. 7 : 14 Luke 2 : 7 

Isa. 53: 9 Matt. 2y\ 57-60 

Isa. 50:6 Mark 14:65 



92 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Mic. 5:2 Matt. 2: I 

Hos. 11: I Matt. 2:15 

Isa. 9:6 • Luke 2: 13, 14 

1. What do you think is the most wonderful 
prophecy concerning Jesus? 

2. Name a number of prophecies that are 
plainly fulfilled in Jesus. 

3. Explain and tell where the prophecies ful- 
filled in Matt. 2 : 18 and 2 : 23 are found. 

Suggestion: Let ten numbers of the study 
class read the prophecies, one prophecy by each 
person, and let ten others read or quote the 
fulfillment. Always tell who speak; that is, 
where the prophecy and fulfillment are found. 

Is prophecy a strong proof that Jesus is the 
Christ? Give a reason for your answer. 

Take notice that prophecy began as soon as 
man fell. Then it was continued by Noah, 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The harp of proph- 
ecy was silent during the bondage in Egypt. But 
when Israel was free, the harp of prophecy was 
tuned to loftier strains. David sang and Daniel 
prophesied. Four hundred years before Jesus 
came, the harp was silent again. Then Jesus, 
who was the subject of prophecy as well as 
prophet, gave the sweetest notes of all prophets. 

I. Name a few of the prophecies of Jesus. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 93 

Jesus said, "My words shall not pass away." 
Has this prophecy been true ? Give a reason for 
your answer. 

2. Study His wonderful prophecies in Mat- 
thew 25. 

3. Wherein can you see the fulfillment of 
these prophecies? 

Study HI. 

SAYINGS OF JESUS. 

State the first ten sayings of Jesus recorded in 
the New Testament : 

1. Luke 2: 49. 

2. Matt. 3: 15. 

3. Matt. 4: 4, 

4. Matt. 4: 7. 

5. Matt. 4: 10. 

Talk about these sayings, 
under which they were said, 
the first ten utterances of Jesus so thoroughly 
that they can be repeated readily. Drill con- 
stantly on the passages. If the lesson is not too 
large, let members give the next ten things 
that Jesus said in their order of utterance. I 
give them here. They may be used or omitted. 

II. John i: 48. 16. John 2: 8. 



6. John I 


38. 


7. John I 


: 39. 


8. John I : 


42. 


9. John I 


: 43. 


ID. John I 


47. 


^s. Tell circumstances 


id. Let the 


class learn 



94 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

12. John 1 : 50, 17. John 2:16. 

13. John i: 51. 18. John 2: 19. 

14. John 2: 4. 19. John 3:3. 

15. John 2: 7. 20. John 3: 5-8. 

A fine drill is to let ten or twenty people 
stand and quote in order of occurrence ten or 
twenty of the first things Jesus said. Let some 
one quote a passage, and the other members tell 
where found and the circumstances under which 
it was said. 

1. What do you think one of the most won- 
derful things that Jesus ever said? 

2. Name three tender sayings of Jesus. 

3. Name three sentences in which Jesus uses 
severity of expression. 

4. How do you harmonize this tenderness and 
severity ? 

Study IV. 

THE FIRST TEN EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF CHRIST. 

1. Birth — Luke 2\ 6,y. 

2. Annunciation of the angel to the shepherds 
— Luke 2: 8-14. 

3. Circumcision — Luke 2: 21. 

4. Presentation at the Temple — Luke 2 : 22-39. 

5. The adoration of the wise men — Matt. 2: 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 95 

6. Flight into Egypt — Matt. 2 : 14. 

7. Return to Nazareth — Matt. 2 : 20-23. What 
does Luke say about his childhood? (Luke 
2: 40.) 

8. Asking questions in the Temple — Luke 2: 
42-49. What is said about him? (Luke 2: 52.) 

9. Baptism, Fords of the Jordan — Mark i : 9, 
10 ; Matt. 3:16. 

10. Temptation — Matt. 4: i-io. 

Jesus was baptized at the Fords of the Jor- 
dan, near the city of Bethabara. Locate the 
place. How far from Jerusalem? 

Give the account of John's announcement that 
Jesus was the Lamb of God. (John i: 29.) 

Give a short history of each of these ten 
events. 

Does any other Gospel contain the event be- 
sides the one given here? 

When he left Egypt, why did not Joseph re- 
turn to Bethlehem? 

How long do you think Jesus was in Egypt? 

What do you know about him after he re- 
turned to Nazareth till his baptism? 

How long was it from his birth till he ap- 
peared in the Temple? From the Temple scene 
till his baptism? 

Be able to give these ten events rapidly in 
theif order. 



96 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Study V. 

THE CALL OF THE FIRST SEVEN DISCIPLES. 

1. John. John i : 37. 

2. Andrew. John i : 40. 

3. Peter. John i : 41. 

4. Philip. John i : 43. 

5. Nathanael. John i : 45. 

6. James. Matt. 4: 21. 

7. Matthew. Matt. 9: 9. 

1. Give a short account of the call of each 
one. 

2. Tell where found, and circumstances under 
which they were called. 

3. Tell what you know of these seven men. 

4. Was Nathanael an apostle? Give a reason 
for your answer. 

5. If Nathanael was an apostle, under what 
name did he go? 

6. Read the list of apostles in Acts i : 13. 

7. Name twelve apostles as recorded by Mat- 
thew. See Matt. 10: 2, 3. Compare Matt. 10: 
2, 3; Mark 3: 16-19; Luke 6: 14-16. 

8. How many of these apostles are mentioned 
after Pentecost? Where mentioned? 

9. Repeat the names of the twelve. 

10. Which one do you regard the greatest? 
Give a reason for your answer. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 97 

Study VI. 
the miracles of jesus. 

Variety. The miracles of Jesus are strong 
proofs of his divinity. His miracles were vari- 
ous. This variety strengthened them, for they 
were wrought upon every possible subject, bod- 
ily, mental, and upon the inanimate. 

Publicity, Thousands in the daylight saw 
many of these miracles performed. 

Credibility. Friend and foe admitted that they 
were supernatural. 

THE RECORD. 

In the four Gospels thirty-five miracles are 
found. Matthew and Luke give the largest 
number, but Mark gives the most graphic and 
startling. John gives but few, largely those not 
mentioned by the other writers. 

THIRTY-FIVE MIRACLES. WHERE WROUGHT. 

Matthew 20 In GaHlee 21 

Luke 20 In Judaea 6 

Mark 18 In Samaria i 

John 6 In Perea 7 

KIND OF MIRACLES. 

Those worked upon nature, such as turning 
wine into water, blasting the fig-tree, walking on 



9« CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

the sea, etc., 9; miracles of healing, 18; on evil 
spirits, 5 ; raising the dead, 3. 

NAME TEN OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MIRACLES. 

1. The healing of the demoniac — Capernaum. 
Luke 4: 31-37. 

2. The impotent man — Jerusalem. John 5: 
1-16. 

3. Raising Lazarus — Bethany. John 11: i. 

4. Widow's son raised — Nain. Luke 7: 11. 

5. Stilling of the tempest. Luke 8: 22-25. 

6. Raising to life Jairus' daughter — Caper- 
naum.. Luke 8: 41. 

7. The demoniac healed. Luke 8 : 26. 

8. Feeding the five thousand — Perea. Luke 
9: 12. 

9. Man with palsy — Capernaum. Mark 2 : 1-3. 

10. Man born blind — Jerusalem. John 9:1. 

1. Give other miracles that you consider re- 
markable. 

2. What was the first miracle? What the sec- 
ond? Where were both performed? 

3. Name the first ten miracles in order. 

4. Learn the time, place, order and text of the 
ten important miracles recorded above. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 99 

Study VII. 

TRIAL AND CRUCIFIXION. 

Give an account of Christ's agonies in the 
Garden, and his arrest. What became of his 
disciples when he was arrested? 

Give in order of occurrence the events in his 
seven trials. 

Relate his sufferings and the abuse cast upon 
him while upon the cross. 

Tell what each one of the four Gospel writers 
said about his trial before Pilate. 

Read one good author on the crucifixion. 

Study VIII. 

EIGHT UTTERANCES ON THE CROSS. 

1. ''Father, forgive them" (Luke 23: 34). Im- 
mediately after he was nailed to the cross. 

2. "To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise" 
(Luke 23: 43). 

3. "Woman, behold thy son" (John 19: 26). 

4. "Behold thy mother" (John 19: 27). 

5. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 
me?" (Matt. 27: 46). 

6. "I thirst" (John 19: 28). 

7. "It is finished" (John 19: 30). 

LOFC 



100 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

8. "Father, into thy hands I commend my 
spirit" (Luke 23: 46). 

Give these eight utterances in order. Of the 
eight, how many did each writer record? 

What did Jesus mean by ''It is finished"? 

Who took him down from the cross? 

Give an account of his burial. 

What did prophecy mean when it is said, "He 
shall find a grave among the rich"? 

After the burial of Jesus, what events took 
place between Friday and daylight on Sunday? 

In the Bible how often do you hear of Nico- 
demus? Give the occurrences. 

Tell the abuse cast upon Christ while on the 
cross. 

Study IX. 

FROM THE RESURRECTION TO THE ASCENSION. 

There were eleven appearances of Christ. To 
Mary Magdalene, to the other women, to Peter, 
to the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, to 
the ten in Jerusalem. These five occurred on 
the resurrection day. On the next Sunday He 
appeared to the eleven, Thomas being present. 
Later, to seven disciples on the sea, to the eleven 
on the mountain when he gave the commission, 
to James alone, to five hundred brethren, and 
last to the eleven at his ascension, near Bethany. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM lOl 

1. Give an account of the women at the tomb. 

2. Read John's sympathetic account — ^John 20 : 
II-18. 

3. Commit the commission as given by Mat- 
thew (28: 18, 19) and Mark (16: 15, 16). 

4. What other things occurred between the 
resurrection and the ascension? 

5. Give the story of the resurrection. Why 
was the soldiers' story not true? 

Study X. 

REVIEW. 

1. Review the nine previous Studies. 

2. Begin with the birth of Jesus and give a 
short synopsis of his Hfe, as nearly in order of 
events as possible. 

3. Take the Book of Mark. Let each member 
of the class take one chapter. If you have six- 
teen members, let each member give a one- 
minute talk on one chapter. Let the one who 
talks stand. In sixteen minutes you have a short 
history of the life of Christ as Mark gives it. 

4. Study Matthew, Luke and John in the same 
way. 

5. What wonderful miracle does John alone 
record? What one Mark, Matthew and Luke 
alone ? Name some miracle recorded by all four 
writers. 



102 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

6. Be able to give readily where the following 
Scriptural events are found: The parable of the 
good Samaritan (Luke lo: 31-36) ; the prodigal 
son (Luke 15: iT-32); the Sermon on the 
Mount; the calling of the twelve apostles (Matt. 
10: 2) ; raising Lazarus (John 11: 38-41) ; the 
Great Commission. 

7. The Sermon on the Mount is found in 
Matt. 5:1-12. What is the important thought 
in chapter 5? Of the Beatitudes (vs. 3-12)? 
Chapter 6 — Lord's Prayer (vs. 9-16) ? Chapter 
7 — Golden Rule (v. 12) ? 

8. Commit to memory the Beatitudes, Lord's 
Prayer, Golden Rule, the communion as given 
by Matthew and Mark (Matt. 11 : 28-30). 

If possible, use one Bible. You can refer 
more easily to references. In all this work, con- 
stantly refer to the Bible. In discussing a sub- 
ject, see what each one of the writers of the four 
Gospels says upon the topic under consideration. 



CHRISTIAN E VANGELISM 103 

CHAPTER XL 
C0NC1.US10N. 

What IS said here in conclusion will apply 
with equal force to evangelist, minister and all 
Christians. 

I. The evangelist should not do anything in 
the present that may react against him or the 
church in the future. Present effects and little 
triumphs in trivial affairs may gratify vanity 
bjut reaction will come. There are victories 
more terrible than defeat; successes worse than 
failures ; and there are brilliant devils that daz- 
zle the world as well as brilliant heroes. 

Many foolish things have been said and done 
under emotionalism that have shamed honest 
men. Excess in feeling and speech has made 
the simple gospel ludicrous to the thinking peo- 
ple. It is easy to influence the young under in- 
tense excitement. It is easy to gather a hundred 
children together, tell touching stories, and get 
them to do almost anything. Ask all to hold up 
their hands that want to go to heaven, and all 
will act in concert. Then tell all to stand who 
want to obey Jesus. Nearly all will do this. 
Mow, that method is not honest. I believe in 



104 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

evangelizing among the children, but it must be 
a concerted action among preacher, evangel- 
ist and parent. A quiet, serious conversation 
with children, explaining to them what it means 
to be a Christian, is far better. It is unfortu- 
nate in Christian life not to be able to point 
back to the time when you gave your heart will- 
ingly to the Lord. 

What is true of children is true of adults. I 
can deliver a sermon at a Y. ]^I. C. A. meeting, 
end get nearly all present to stand up for the 
Lord, as the phrase, so often used, expresses it. 
Not one in ten has any clear opinion of what 
he is doing. ]\Iuch of this playing at confession 
reacts against Christian work. To call these 
people converts is to misstate the truth, and to 
injure the seeker in his efforts to become a 
Christian. 

2. All coarse, silly and irreverent language 
should be avoided. Some of the language and 
illustrations used by some evangelists at men's 
meetings are disgraces. !Leave these things to 
teachers, parents and physician. Let your lan- 
guage be chaste. I have heard the vulgar street 
rabble repeating the filthy jokes heard at a men's 
meeting. These meetings lower and cheapen re- 
ligion. The Christianity of Christ is clean. By 
telling some vulgar joke, you may hear the ral> 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 105 

ble laugh in derision, but you have not pointed 
any one to Jesus. 

3. Illustrations, anecdotes and wit have their 
place in evangelism, but they may be used in 
such a manner as to do harm. 

(i) The illustration should be dignified and 
chaste. 

(2) The joke should teach a truth. To tell 
a story for the sake of the story is unpardon- 
able. Wit at the beginning of a sermon, in 
order to get attention, and make plain the 
theme, is proper ; but when you come to the last 
appeal, frivolity and mirth must give way to 
earnestness and solemnity. Sing in lofty strains. 

4. Illustrations are valuable. The best illus- 
trations are found in the Bible. A Bible story 
never grows old. A passage of Scripture, in 
explaining the illustration, adds force. Biogra- 
phy and history furnish a rich field for illustra- 
tion. 

Let your illustrations be true to history. You 
may tell the story of William Tell, Pocahontas, 
or the battle of Thermopylae, without discussing 
the facts of these stories. It is historically true 
to relate them. But if one says that the battle 
of Issus was fought in Egypt 200 A. D., he is 
historically wrong. I heard an orator give an 
incident in the life of Douglas, under Grant's 



106 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

administration, Douglas had been dead many 
years. I heard an evangeUst tell the story of 
the lost ship, "Central America/' and he was 
incorrect as to place, time and results. Be ac- 
curate. 

The preaching of the evangelist should be of 
a high moral tone. His preaching should ele- 
vate the speech, tastes and deportment of the 
people who hear him. Sit at the feet of Jesus, 
and learn of him; then your conversation will 
be pure, loving and elevating. Your hearers 
will know that you have been with Jesus. 

I conclude this volume with a sermon on 
"Progress in Religious Reformation/' for two 
reasons : 

1. Whenever I preach this sermon scores urge 
me to print it. Here I comply with their wishes. 

2. In this address I have given a short history 
of the march oi the church across the centuries. 
Christians should have some knowledge of the 
great religious movements, and be able to talk 
intelligently about Luther, Calvin, Wesley, 
Campbell and Jonathan Edwards. Knowledge is 
power. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 107 

Progress in Religious Reformation. 
A Sermon Preached by /. V. Coombs. 

When Jesus died, in all probability he had 
about five hundred followers. They were dis- 
couraged and hopeless. As their hearts were 
sorrowing and their eyes bedimmed with tears, 
they said, ''We thought this was he who was to 
redeem Israel/' Yesterday they had a Master. 
They saw him die on the cross. He seemed to 
be weaker than Jewish authority and Roman 
law. The star of hope had gone out. 

But wdien the Spirit came on the day of Pen- 
tecost, they never doubted more. This little 
band of five hundred quickly became five thou- 
sand; then in the first century, five hundred 
thousand; then in the next century, two million, 
and on to five million w^hen we reach the third 
century. At that rate of increase the world 
would soon have been conquered for Christ. 
But God's people quarreled. Two little men 
quarreled. It always takes little men to quar- 
rel. Great men may discuss the great issues,, but 
they never quarrel. Alexander, a bishop, and 
Arius, a prelate, both of Alexandria, Egypt, 
quarreled about Unitarianism and Trinitarian- 
ism. Man, pendulum-like, swings from extreme 
to extreme. Arius swung to the extreme of 



108 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Unitarianism, and Alexander to the extreme of 
Trinitarianism. 

Two parties quickly went to battle. In 306 
A. D. Constantine became emperor of Rome. In 
a way, in 310, he embraced Christianity, and 
changed the capital of the empire from Rome 
to Constantinople. In order to obtain favors 
from the emperor, men must be Christians, 
which meant that they must belong to the Con- 
stantine party. The whole army was baptized. 
The church was full of baptized but uncon- 
verted people. 

This Arian controversy destroyed the quiet of 
the church, k. delegation of bishops asked the 
emperor to call a council of bishops, and let 
them settle what orthodoxy is. We have been 
at this business for sixteen centuries, and finally 
we have settled what orthodoxy is. It is this: 
Your doxy is not my doxy, and everything else 
is heterodoxy. The emperor called the council 
to meet in Nice, a city of Asia Minor. This as- 
sembly, which convened 325 A. D. and contin- 
ued in session till August 25 — sixty-seven days 
— IS called fhe First Council. 

The council consisted of 318 bishops, besides 
presbyters, deacons and others; all told, 2,048 
persons. Each party had some remarkable men. 
Eusebius, of Caesarea, championed the cause of 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 109 

Arius. Athanasius, of Alexandria, espoused the 
c::use of Alexander (Jones' History, p. 171). 
This council debated and wrangled, but finally 
condemned Arius and ordered his books to be 
burned. Thus the Nicene Creed had its begin- 
ning. Born of an unholy alliance, it had an 
unrighteous influence on the church. Constan- 
tine declared that if the books of Arius were 
found in any home, the possessors of the books 
should be put to death. Thirty thousand peo- 
ple were murdered in Thrace and other territo- 
ries for reading the books of Arius. Historians 
have had some trouble to find the cause of the 
Dark Ages. Some tell us it was because Greece, 
with her learning, had ceased to give light ; oth- 
ers contend that it was because the state power 
of Rome failed to give protection. I will come 
nearer home. It was when the church put its 
hands upon the rights and liberties of men, and 
proposed to think for them. 

We see in this first General Council the begin- 
ning of the union of state and church. Under 
Leo I., 441 A. D., we see the complete union of 
church and state. We need only a stronger man 
to ascend the throne, and the state will be subor- 
dinated to the church. The world found this 
man in Hildebrand, called Gregory VH. in Cath- 
olic history. He began his notorious career in 



110 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

1073 A. D. As early as the time of Leo I., 
441 A. D., the title ''pope'' had been used, but 
not in a poHtical or ecclesiastical sense. 

The early rulers at Rome were simply bishops. 
Pre-eminence was often given to certain bishops, 
as to the bishop of Jerusalem or Alexandria. 
Finally the bishop of Rome became by far the 
most noted and powerful. By an easy transi- 
tion he became, not a bishop, but the universal 
bishop, which rapidly paved the way for the 
title "father'' or ''pope." 

Gregory the Great, 590 A. D., was the first 
to wear the title "pope," or "universal bishop." 
By the time we reach Gregory VII., the title 
became universal. He claimed all temporal and 
spiritual power. He claimed the right to de- 
throne or enthrone princes and kings. Here are 
some of his haughty maxims : "There is only 
one name in the world, and that is Pope. All 
princes ought to kiss his feet. He alone can 
make bishops and dissolve councils. Nobody 
can judge him. He never has, and never can, 
err. He can depose princes and release subjects 
from oaths." 

Against this usurpation of authority, Henry 
IV., of Germany, protested. Gregory claimed 
the right to appoint all earthly rulers. Henry 
denied this authority. Hildebrand (Gregory 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 111 

VIII.) , in order to subdue Henry, hurled the 
bull of excommunication against him. Henry in 
turn defied the Pope. Hildebrand said: *'I will 
excommunicate from the Holy Church all fol- 
lowers of the rebellious German king. Choose 
you this day whom you will serve, Henry or the 
vicar in Rome.'' In an ignorant and dark age, 
the masses left Henry and took sides with the 
potentate in Rome. Henry found himself with- 
out subjects. He must make peace with the 
Pope. Over the mountains he went. Three 
'days, barefooted and in the cloak of humiliation, 
he begged for pardon. The Pope came out, put 
his foot upon the neck of Henry, the token of 
submission, pardoned him, but Hildebrand ap- 
pointed all officers and was triumphant. The 
state had surrendered to the church, Hilde- 
brand started out to accomplish two things: 
Subordinate the state to the church, and the 
church to himself. He accomplished his de- 
signs. But his victories were not lasting, for 
Henry drove him out of Italy, and Hildebrand 
died an exile, but he had placed the Pope above 
all temporal power. 

The culmination of Papal authority came in 
the reign of Innocent III. (1198). He took the 
title, "The Vicar of God," and declared that 
God never organized but one kingdom, the 



112 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

church. x-\ll states must secure power from the 
church. He would rule the world. He said, 
"The Pope is the one luminary of the world." 
Hence all others shine from borrowed light. 
For two hundred years the vicar ruled the civ- 
ihzed world. There was no state. The popes 
made law and executed violators. Not fewer 
than sixty million were put to death in the name 
of religion. The cardinals and bishops went 
forth with pomp and gaudy display. The poor 
were taxed by the church until the burden could 
be carried no longer. 

The princes of Italy drove the Pope from 
Rome. On the death of Gregory XL the pope 
(1378) took refuge in Avignon, France, where 
he, with his successors, reigned seventy years. 
This period is called the captivity, as the Jews 
were in captivity seventy years in Babylon. This 
court of Avignon was a cesspool of vice, a court 
of extortion, extravagance, and unbounded profli- 
gacy and wickedness. Heathen Carthage' vo- 
luptuous Corinth or pagan Rome were not to be 
compared to this seventy years' debauchery. The 
wicked cardinals and haughty popes wanted 
more money. They could not get it by tax or 
appeal, hence they resorted to the sale of mdul- 
gences. Leo X. gave as a pretense for the sale 
of these indulgences that he needed the money 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 113 

to carry on the Crusades and to erect St. Peter's 
Church. The real purpose was to pay the exor- 
bitant expenses of the Papal court. 

A regular price was fixed for the pardon of 
any crime from theft to murder. Commit the 
crime, pay so much money, and the Pope will 
pardon. Then they agreed to sell an indulgence 
even before it was committed. That notorious 
villain, John Tetzel, went forth peddling indul- 
gences. In a gorgeously decorated cart, he went 
from town to city. Bells were rung as he en- 
tered the city. He mounted his cart and thus 
addressed the people: ''God has sent me to you 
with his greatest gift. I have power to absolve 
you from any crime you have committed, and 
from any sins committed hereafter. The mo- 
ment the money tinkles in the bottom of this 
box, your soul shall be as pure as a babe unborn. 
More than this, if you have any friend in pur- 
gatory, I am empowered to release his soul from 
purgatory and to carry it on angel-wings to 
heaven, on the payment of the money." 

MARTIN LUTHER. 

One brave little monk protested against this 
profligate court. He proclaimed that the sale 
of indulgences was sinful. For his opinions he 
was summoned before the Diet of Worms. 



114 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

Charles V. presided. Luther's friends pleaded 
with him not to go. He rephed, ''If there were s 
as many devils in Worms as there are tiles on 
the roofs of the houses, I would still go.'' Be- 
' fore this assembly Luther made an address., 
closing: ''Here 1 take my stand. I can not do 
otherwise, so God help me. x\men." 

In 15 17 Luther nailed his ninety-five theses 
on the door of the church in Wittenberg. The 
Pope hurled the bull of excommunication against 
Luther. This, Luther burned in public. After 
the Diet of Worms (1521) Luther returned 
victorious, and Protestantism began. Luther 
was a brave man. All honor to him. If I 
wanted to wear a party name, I would not hesi- 
tate to wear the name of Luther. We are not 
married -to Luther. The church is the bride; 
Christ, the bridegroom. Well did good Luther 
say: "Do not call yourselves Lutherans. Luther 
did not die for you. Call yourselves Christians.'' 
Luther did not go far enough. Maybe he went 
as far as the age would permit. We now need 
a man to call the people back to God. 

For several years people had gone to priests 
for forgiveness. The priest had become the 
mediator instead of Christ. The Pope was God. 
The Catholic Church made the Pope God ; the 
Greek Church, the Patriarch, God; while Prot- 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 115 

estantism made the king, God. The bishop of 
England declared King James was inspired and 
could not do wrong. To-day we substitute law 
for God. We can not love a law, a principle 
or a theory. We can love a person. 

JOHN CALVIN. 

John Calvin came to exalt the sovereignty of 
God. He said: ''God reigns. No longer to 
priests, but to a personal God.'' He exalted the 
sovereignty of God in a way that had not been 
heard since the days of the apostles. He saw 
the divine side of salvation, but lost sight of the 
human side. He saw what God had done, but 
lost sight of what man must do. Some people 
to-day say, "Why did not God make a man who 
could not sin?'' Because he can not. Many 
things he can't do. God can't make two parallel 
lines meet. When they meet they are not par- 
allel. He can't make white black. He can 
change black to white. He can and has made 
animals that can't sin. He can make another 
animal that can't sin, but that being will not be 
a man. He could make a being that looks like 
a man that can't sin. He has made the monkey 
and baboon, that can't sin. But he has made a 
being that we call a man, and given him the 
power to accept or reject. Take volition from 



116 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

this being, and he is not a man. Calvin formu- 
lated the 'Tive Points of Calvinism'' (election, 
hereditary sin, total depravity, predestination 
and foreordination), declaring that God had or- 
dained a certain number to eternal damnation 
and some to eternal happiness ; that the number 
is fixed, and can neither be increased nor de- 
creased. 

We have had some trouble to find out what 
Calvinism is. Let me define it as follows : When 
you want religion, you can't get it; when you 
get it, you don't want it; zvhen you have it, you 
don't know it; if you know it, you haven't got 
it; when you get it, you can't lose it; if you 
lose it, you never had it. God would have all 
to be saved. To agonize and pray, and still stay 
away from Christ, is infidelity. You do not 
believe God. Jesus says to every child of man, 
**Come now.'' 

Crossing from the Continent to Great Britain, 
we find the conditions no better. Dean Stanley, 
in speaking of the days of Wesley, said: ''The 
nation was corrupt. Worldliness was every- 
where. Many preachers never preached a ser- 
mon. They hired substitutes while they spent 
their time at horse-races, fox-chases, and in the 
inns." We need a reformation to call the peo- 
ple back to a life of godliness. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 117 

JOHN WESLEY. 

The mission of John Wesley was to reform 
society. He urged men to righteousness. En- 
tering the church is not enough. The followers 
of Jesus must live a life of prayer and right- 
eousness. Wherever the followers of Wesley 
have gone, they have gone as a warm-hearted, 
praying people. 

IN AMERICA. 

The Puritans came to Massachusetts, the 
Quakers to Pennsylvania, the Catholics to Mary- 
land and the Swedes to Delaware, for religious 
liberty. But, with one exception, just as soon 
as they obtained power, they would not tolerate 
any one who did not accept their faith. The 
Pilgrims banished the Quakers, and threatened 
death to them if they returned. Three Baptists 
came from Virginia to visit a sick uncle in Lynn, 
Mass. They had prayers with the sick man. 
For this offense against the law they were fined, 
whipped and sent out of the State. Men were 
whipped because they would not have their chil- 
dren baptized (Belcher's History, p. 172). 

Roger Williams was driven out of Massa- 
chusetts and hunted like a partridge. He lived 
fourteen weeks in banishment among savages, 
where finally he found the rest among them that 



118 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

was denied him among Christians. Here In 
Rhode Island, in 1639, WilUams was immersed 
by Ezekiel HolHman. Then Roger WilUams 
immersed Holliman and nine others, or eleven 
immersed in all. There was not one immersed 
person in the colony. WilUams was immersed 
by an unimmersed person, but here began the 
first Baptist church in America (McClintock 
and Strong, p. 654). Surely succession is not 
found here, and yet it is a properly constituted 
Baptist church. If ten men, all unconverted, are 
alone in the wilderness, and desire to become 
Christians, they can constitute a New Testament 
church if they desire. In the Old Dominion, re- 
ligious liberty was refused to all who did not 
conform to the Established Church. In 1662 the 
Commonwealth of Virginia passed a law fining 
all persons who refused to have their children 
baptized (Henning's Statutes, p. 165). In 1769 
three Baptist preachers were arrested. The 
indictment read: 'Tndicted for preaching the 
gospel of the Son of God." As the clerk was 
reading the indictment a plain-dressed man 
entered the court-room. His clothing was spat- 
tered with mud, for he had ridden fifty miles on 
horseback from his home In Hanover County, 
Va. The prosecuting attorney harangued the 
jury and abused the accused. When he closed 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 119 

his address, this stranger, a young man, arose 
and said, **May it please the Court, I see these 
men have no advocate, and I have come to speak 
in their behalf/' That man was Patrick Henry. 
He called for the indictment. Reading it aloud, 
waving it over his head a few times, he ex- 
claimed: ''Charged with preaching the gospel of 
the Son of God. Did I read the indictment 
correctly? What is the crime? Accused of 
preaching the gospel of the Son of God.'' Amid 
profound silence and astonishment, he paused, 
waved the indictment again and again, and 
exclaimed, "My God!" Another long pause. 
Henry resumed: "In a day like this, when truth 
is about to break her fetters, when man is ready 
to arise and claim his natural rights, here in 
America, these men are accused as criminals for 
preaching the gospel of the Son of God. Great 
God ! What an accusation ! We came to 
America for political and religious liberty. May 
it please your Honor, zijhat law have these men 
violated^' He closed his great speech, waved 
the indictment and sat down. The silence was 
painful. The prosecuting attorney was pale. 
The judge, to break the awful silence, rapped 
for order, though all was as still as death, and 
shouted, ''Sheriffs discharge these men/' A few 
years before this, Patrick Henry made the first 



120 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

great speech in favor of political liberty, and 
the chairman shouted 'Treason! treason!" 
Here he made the first great speech in favor of 
religious liberty. 

This was an age of religious hate and bigotry. 
After the Revolution, persecution ceased, but 
sectarian strife continued. So-called Christians 
hurled bitter denunciations against those who 
did not conform to their mode of worship. 
About the beginning of the next century after 
the Revolution a few men began to plead for 
harmony. There was a tendency to break away 
from human creeds and party names. The Meth- 
odists, Baptists and Presbyterians were the great 
Protestant denominations. There was a revolt 
in each of these denominations. There was a 
revolt against creeds and partyism. 

o'kelley. 

James O'Kelley, in 1792, in North Carolina, 
gave notice to the Methodist Conference that he 
could no longer wear a party name or be gov- 
erned by a human creed. He had quite a fol- 
lowing in North Carolina and Virginia. 

The second movement originated in Hartland, 
Vt. Dr. Abner Jones, in 1800, declared his oppo- 
sition to all ''sectarian names and creeds." He 
was a preacher in the Regular Baptist Church. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 121 

The third revolt originated among the Pres- 
byterians in 1801. Barton W. Stone, of Ken- 
tucky, in 1803, declared the followers of Christ 
should be called Christians only. He rejected all 
ecclesiastical authority, and in the great Cane 
Ridge revival, in 1803, began to teach this 
doctrine. 

From these three movements, rather vague in 
their purpose, originated the ''Christian Connec- 
tion." Barton Stone himself, and many of those 
who went out from the Presbyterians with him, 
cast his lot with the restoration started by the 
Campbells. 

In 1807 a Scotch Presbyterian preacher landed 
at Philadelphia. He found the synod in session. 
He told his brethren that he came to America 
to preach. He was sent to Washington, Pa., 
where he began to preach for the Seceder Pres- 
byterian Church. He had not preached long 
before he went a few miles north of Washing- 
ton, Pa., to conduct a communion serv^ice. Here 
he found the Old and the New School adher- 
ents worshiping. He invited all to commune 
with the Lord. He was condemned for this act 
of affection. 

What is the difference between the Old and 
the New School? This is the difference I find: 
The Old School says, "In Adam's fall we die 



122 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

all/' while the New says, ''In Adam's fall we all 
die/' One takes their rehgion in poetry and the 
other in prose. 

Thomas Campbell said that primitive Chris- 
tianity could not prosper under these condi- 
tions. The Bible was a dead letter. Religious 
bigotry and sectarian strife divided the follow- 
ers of Christ. His former brethren criticized 
him and condemned his actions. In reply Mr. 
Campbell said: ''Where the Bible speaks, we 
speak; and where the Bible is silent, we are 
silent." The great mass of people believed with 
Campbell, and in 1809 was organized the Chris- 
tian Association of Washington. Mr. Campbell 
drew up what he called "The Declaration and 
Address.'' 

In 1809 his son Alexander arrived in this 
country. When Mr. Campbell learned of the 
arrival of his family, he started on horseback to 
meet them. In the wilderness of Pennsylvania 
he met his family. After an affectionate greet- 
ing, he told his son of this religious change. At 
once Alexander told his father that he had 
undergone a similar change. On arriving at 
Washington, Pa., Alexander gave the "Declara- 
tion" a more careful reading. He said to his 
father: "If we adopt this declaration, 'Where 
the Scriptures speak, we speak; where these are 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 123 

silent, we are silent/ we must abandon infant 
baptism/' In conversation with a Mr. Riddle, 
Thomas Campbell said, ''We must have a thus 
saith the Lord for all our actions." "Then," 
replied Mr. Riddle, ''you must become a Baptist, 
for there is no authority for infant baptism.'" 
Mr. Campbell replied, "To the law and the testi- 
mony ; if there is no authority for infant baptism, 
it must go." The Campbells began to investigate, 
and decided that there was no warrant for either 
infant baptism or for sprinkling. 

In June, 1812, Thomas Campbell, his wife, 
his daughter Dorothea, Alexander and his wife, 
and two others, Mr. Hanen and wife — seven in 
all — were immersed in Buffalo Creek by Mr. 
Luce, a Baptist preacher. It was agreed that 
no experience was to be given, but that they 
should be baptized upon a simple confession of 
faith. At once they cast their efforts with the 
Baptists, but agreed to stand by the declaration, 
"Whatever the Bible commands us to do, we 
will do ; what it commands us not to do, we do 
not. Where it is silent, there is freedom of 
opinion." 

Before the Baptist Association of which he 
was a member Alex. Campbell preached his 
famous sermon on the law, in 18 16. Many 
Baptists objected to the sermon. It was easily 



124 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

to be seen that they must become an independent 
society in order to restore New Testament Chris- 
tianity. In 1823 they left the Brush Run Asso- 
ciation, and united with the Redstone Associa- 
tion. They were then changed to the Wellsburg 
Association. The members of this association 
agreed with Mr. Campbell, and in 1828 they 
rejected all human names and creeds. The cur- 
rent Reformation, started by Campbell, really 
began in 1812. In 1823 the great facts were 
taught, and in 1828 the New Testament church 
was restored. 

Luther attempted to reform the Catholic 
Church, John Wesley the Episcopalian, and 
Roger Williams the Independents, but the Camp- 
bells came to restore the New Testament church. 
Let us look at the steps that took the people 
away from the true church. 

The first step was man worship. We see this 
in the days of Paul, when the brethren of Cor- 
inth desired to wear party names. 

The second step was in the year 251, when 
the New Testament was rejected and opinion 
substituted. Here was the first case of pouring 
for baptism — the baptism of the skeptic Nova- 
tian, who was sick, and water was poured on 
him while he was in bed. 

The third step was in the Nicene Creed, in 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 125 

325. A human creed took the place of the 
divine confession. 

The fourth step was when the Council of 
Ravenna (1311) changed the ordinance of bap- 
tism by a legislative act. 

The fifth step was when man was exalted 
above God. In this period we hear such 
phrases as ''Lord God the Patriarch/' ''Lord 
God the Pope." 

The first step back toward the divine line was 
made by Luther, the second by John Calvin, the 
third by Wesley, the fourth by Roger Williams, 
and the last by Alexander Campbell. 

ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. 

I have said many things about Luther, Cal- 
vin, Wesley and Williams. In conclusion, may 
I not say a few things about Campbell? I will 
not risk my judgment, but quote from Hart's 
"Literature" and from Dr. Tupper's book, "The 
Seven Great Lights." Mr. Tupper, at the time 
he wrote this book, was pastor of the Baptist 
Church in Denver. Here is the estimate put 
upon Campbell by these men: "Air. Campbell 
did the work of ten men. He founded and 
endowed Bethany College. He was president 
of the college during the active part of his life. 
He preached from New York to Missouri, edited 



126 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

a paper, and held five of the greatest reUgious 
debates ever held in America." 

J\lr. Campbell was challenged for debate sev- 
eral times before he accepted. He believed it 
to be wrong to bring God's word into debate. 
But when Mr. Walker said, ''Meet me or give 
up your plea,'' Campbell said that for truth's 
sake he would debate. In 1820 he held his first 
debate with Mr. John Walker, at Mount Pleas- 
ant, O. His opponents were not satisfied, and 
in 1823, at Washington, Ky., he met ]\Ir. Mc- 
Calla. Both of these men were Presbyterians. 
It was agreed that Mr. ]\IcCalla should pay 
half of the expense of the debate, but Mr. Camp- 
bell had to publish it alone. He now should 
rest. 

Robert Owen, the Scotch infidel, purchased a 
large tract of land in southern Indiana, and 
declared that his system of social science would 
kill Christianity in fifty years. He challenge'! 
any one to meet him in debate. For three years 
that challenge was not accepted. Mr. Campbell 
wrote Mr. Owen that he would meet him in 
debate. In 1829, in Cincinnati, the debate was 
held. i\Ir. Owen made an able address. Little 
and big skeptics have been quoting his speech 
ever since. In his second and third speeches he 
repeated the speech of the first day. On the 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 127 

third day Mr. Campbell said: ''Mr. Owen, you 
have the affirmative. Continue in your argu- 
ment, or I shall build an affirmative." Owen 
replied: ''I came here for truth, Mr. Campbell. 
If you have any truth to give, you can take as 
long as you like." Mr. Campbell began that 
wonderful speech that continued twelve hours. 
Six days, and the debate is over. Owen thanked 
the moderators, when Campbell said, "Before I 
bid you farewell, I wish to ask. How many of 
you will go home and help Mr. Owen build up 
social science?" Three arose. "How many 
will go back home to defend the Bible and 
Christianity?" Sixteen hundred arose. Mr. 
Owen stepped off of the platform a defeated 
man, and died in London a Spiritualist. 

Bishop Purcell, a Catholic bishop of Cincm- 
nati, attacked the public school system. He 
declared It unconstitutional. Campbell agreed 
to defend the system, and also to show that 
Protestantism was right and Catholicism wrong. 
The debate took place in 1833, in Cincinnati. 
The public school system went on, and we owe 
more to Mr. Campbell for the system than to 
any other ten men, save Horace Mann. Mr. 
Campbell has settled the question with his for- 
mer brethren (the Seceders), with the infidels, 
and the Catholics. He should rest. No; jeal- 



128 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

ousy and hate still linger. He is growing old 
now, but he must go on horseback to Lexington, 
to meet Mr. Rice, a Presbyterian preacher. 

His opponents said, in this debate, that Mr. 
Campbell must he driven to the zvall. \i they 

^ can't defeat him in argument, they will con- 
tinue the debate until he is exhausted. The 
debate began in 1842, with Henry Clay, the sil- 
ver-tongued orator of Kentucky, as moderator. 
One day, two days, five days, and Campbell 
is not driven to the wall. Clay says: ''Camp- 

'bell may be wrong, but all Kentucky can not 
prove that he is wrong." Ten days, twelve 
days, seventeen, and now eighteen days, and a 
halt is called. Who is victorious ? The retail 
price of that book is four dollars. The book 
is found only in the homes of the members of 
the church of Christ. This tells you who was 
driven to the wall. 

While the ''Declaration and Address" con- 
tained many valuable truths, I wish to notice 
two things. One of the great features was the 
union of God's people upon the one book, the 
Bible, and the one name, ''Christian." Then 
Christian union was a new thing. Now all relig- 
ious societies favor it. A man who does not 
champion the union of Christians is living in the 
past. 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 129 

The second great point was a rational plan of 
salvation. What was called justification by faith 
was jukification by feelings. Emotionalism was 
a test of conversion. A man pointed to his 
feelings as evidence of his acceptance before 
God, instead of trusting the words of Jesus. 
Frenzy, ecstasy and vain imaginations controlled 
nearly all the revival meetings. Campbell came 
calling the people to the promises of Jesus. The 
school of emotionalism said, "Get the Spirit and 
come to Christ.'' The gospel says, ''Come to 
Christ and receive the Spirit.'' Religious frenzy 
says, 'T know I am a Christian because I feci 
happy." Rational men say, ''We are happy 
because we know we are Christians." 

All Christians are longing for that great day 
when sectism and hate will be no more. The 
past, with its defeats and victories, is behind. 
The future is ours to improve or neglect. The 
sole original herald of this new religion was an 
obscure Nazarite in coarse garments, lifting 
up his voice in the wilderness, soon arrested, 
imprisoned and beheaded. Then came the 
lowly Nazarene, who spent a few years in 
the work of mercy, and without leaving one 
page of written history or an organized society, 
he yielded to an ignoble death. The shepherd 
is smitten and the sheep are scattered. In an 



130 CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 

upper room in Jerusalem is gathered a little 
band of one hundred and twenty disciples. 
They are waiting for the coming of the Spirit 
that will guide them into, all truth. This 
was in the age of Augustus, when the word 
of Caesar was law. But all that made Caesar 
pompous and brilliant has forever passed away, 
but the little kingdom that lay sleeping there in 
the hearts of that little band has survived the 
decay of empires, and is this day the most pow- 
erful force on earth. 

Now the wintry chill of persecution comes 
and it seems that the cause of Christ would fail 
on earth. But the season of rejoicing came, 
heralded by such warbles of God's truth as 
Wycliffe and Wesley and Calvin and Campbell. 
The Bible is unlocked and sent back to the saints. 
We see the nations springing out of darkner.s 
into light. We catch the first notes of triumph. 
The dim twilight of the past is fading away 
before the roseate hue of the morning. But 
the complete triumph has not yet come. It will 
come when we have a spiritual brotherhood, 
redeemed from all human authority, with no 
test of fellowship but a complete surrender to 
Christ. Over such a union of God's people the 
heavens would stoop to kiss the earth now rec- 
onciled to God ; and every sower that went forth 



CHRISTIAN EVANGELISM 131 

to sow in tears, and every reaper that went forth 
to reap in joy, would rejoice before the Lord 
forever and forever. What are you doing to 
bring about that glorious day when all of God's 
people shall be one? 



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